So… I drop my phone a lot. And when you have a backpacker phone and drop this phone, it is not an easy endeavor to contain. Not only does one lose the back, but the battery falls out, as well as the keyboard template. It is not a silent occurrence, but it is a frequent one.
Dropping my phone on the escalator and watching the pieces tumble to the bottom, I was forced to race past stand-byers in attempts of collecting my beloved mobile before the end of the escaping road drew near. Amidst a world of iphones and businesses suits, no one helped me – not even with a sympathetic look. It was at this moment that I realized I have officially stepped outside of the backpacking culture and have entered… the working world! Though this elite group of people may be an enjoyable bunch, they seem to be less empathetic toward the historical addition of this phone; or maybe just my clumsy nature.
Life as I know it has continued to give me joy, forcing me to constantly re-evaluate if this is real, or wonder when I will simply wake up from this dream. I am happy. On top of increasing knowledge and comfort at WSP Lincolne Scott, I am finding other beautiful comforts. My dear, loved, valued, and I-still-can’t-believe-how-blessed-I-am-to-know-this-friend Lisa moved into my home just over a week ago! I could not be happier with this recent development; she could not be more perfect as a roommate!
Lisa is good for me in a lot of ways (I am starting to think this is more of a blog dedicated to her than Australia!), and I feel so blessed to have such a great friend to come home to. Some of my favorite things she has said to me thus far that have really gotten me thinking: 1. Some people are just really good at suffering, 2. You know Tara, you have really great ideas for change, but sometimes when you have a thought like this you should have an asteric (*) that says “conditions apply” (LOL), and 3. Tara, maybe you feel so bloated because of all the coffees and hot chocolates with milk you drink at work (this came to actually be true – apparently too much dairy isn’t a good thing). She is blunt and honest and sometimes says things I don’t like, but I am learning a lot from her.
Since Lisa’s arrival to our home on Crown Street, I managed to saw a desk in half (I have never done anything like this before) to make more space in our bedroom, manage to make it to bed before midnight during every day during the week, eat proper meals for dinner, and have someone to bounce ideas about life off of. I can’t seem to absorb enough of this dear friend and I think that she is incredibly helpful in my pursuit of learning to better know myself.
One of my more significant insights since working and living in Sydney has been my desire to be here. Originally my mentality was to work, spend as little money as possible, and have months of traveling. But I soon came to realize that I don’t want to live these months only for the future. I want to enjoy this year for all that it is to be and can be. Each day is an adventure, each day is a gift. I don’t want to spend my time stunted to only have a few great months at the end. One year is too short, and I am having such a lovely time in the present that I am beginning to recognize that these days are part of my travel as well.
Last weekend was a “Joyous” celebration for me. I headed North with my University mate to one of our favorite previous destinations known as Port Stephens. With much physical distance between us, Joy and I closed the gap by uniting in Blacktown and headed in her vehicle for a two-and-a-half hour drive up the coast. One of the greatest and continued realizations for me in the past two weeks is that I haven’t been really noticing what I need until I have it again. Living in the city is beautiful and I wouldn’t change it for anything. But in my heart of hearts, I am a woman who craves the ocean and nature and wildlife. Starting off the weekend with a side trip that can be no further talked about, we met Port Stephens with a dolphin cruise! Being that on our first visa we had many disappointments of failures when promises of seeing sea life, Joy and I finally encountered dolphins in their natural habitat! Though the rain came down, it was difficult to dampen our moods and enthusiasm.
From here Joy and I spent a great portion of our time at the YHA hostel that acts more as a retreat than anything else. Submersed in greenery and nature, this temporary escape provided more sounds and sights of nature than I have experienced in my two months of being here thus far. It was peaceful and my much needed thirst for Joy was finally quenched. The time went by too quickly and all week I simply keep wishing that it was last Saturday.
Overall, I am still happy and in high spirits. I have decided to slow my life down and focus on things that I aspired to but have not been putting priority to since being in Australia. Being in this environment is one of constant stimulation, and I think the real challenge is learning to say no and finding something not to do and people not to meet. I am taking necessary moments to myself and confronting uncomfortable situations rather than putting them behind me. It is good, and I have been valuing all emotions that life has to offer.
Dear friends ones, thank you for your time. Thank you for who you are to me. Thank you for taking care of me. And Mum…. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you!
