Other than the obvious variation of the weather from Oz to the UK and the carefree, laidback beach living lifestyle, there’s one thing that’s altered more than any amount of sun, sand or bikini time. Me.
Needless to say, my life has changed somewhat over the last half a year or so. Moving to the other side of the world has been epic, literally a dream come true and yeah, with it has come heartache, sadness and ‘missing out’… but we make our beds.
Sitting on the plane Australia bound with a long flight to contemplate what I’d left behind and what was awaiting me, I remember thinking long and hard about what I wanted out of this new life. To live in flip flops by the beach was a must, as was a break from the corporate working world, instead swapping it for the freelance coffee shop life. I wanted to eat better, to exercise more, to ultimately be healthier, both in body and mind.
For those that know me, I have, what some might deem an unusual genre of literature taste. I gave up fiction when I decided that the massive amount of time I spent with my head amid the pages could go to better use. I decided that if I was going to read, I was going to learn.
Reading for me is like writing, it’s my therapy. It takes me away to a place outside of my everyday pondering, where I can concentrate on just one thing, where I can engross myself in it and get lost in my thoughts. How to stop giving a f#?k, how to think small to make big changes, how to take charge of your life, how to push yourself to the limits without damage, how to change your mindset and become more present with the space and the people around you, something I now live by.
It may be my age, but these lessons are the things that now interest me, I thrive on reading and absorbing them, one book a week, sometime two. Podcasts are also something I’m hooked on, some days listening in on at least four a day. Tom and Lisa Bilyeu, Mark Manson, Rich Roll, the infamous Joe Rogan. All these amazing podcast hosts that talk to the world’s most interesting people who’ve been through it, felt it, changed their trail and lived to tell the tale. Whilst I don’t have a rags to riches story to share or a tale about an abusive, unhappy childhood that I had to overcome, these stories still give me an immense amount of strength to push for what I want to be, where I want to be, and who I want to be.
I wasn’t really looking to change myself that much, it just kinda happened, that’s life I guess, we adapt to our surroundings. After 7 months of living in paradise, I’m starting to see and feel the difference for myself. Bed by 9pm and up at 5am is my new routine. Early morning meditation, yoga, strength training, beach run, all of the things I love to do which help me get productive and energetic for what’s always a busy day ahead. Eating a clean, green vegetarian diet keeps my health in check, something I’m a little anxious about on times, not being that much younger than my Mother when she was diagnosed, and daily reading broadens my mind emphatically.
I don’t drink alcohol anymore and I don’t ‘go out’ other than a monthly 2-hour business networking meet up. I enjoy catching up with the amazing new friends I’ve made over a hot chocolate or a walk on the beach, or both. I enjoy keeping fit, I enjoy my work, I enjoy my diet, I enjoy learning and I enjoy spending time with Hubby and the children. It’s just us four here, we’re all we’ve got, and our bond is intense, just as it should be.
I’m currently having a break from posting on Facebook, merely to invest the time I spend there on other things that make me smile; disconnect to reconnect. There’s no negativity here where we are, there’s no stress, no tension. My daily regime and Aussie lifestyle nourishes my mind, body and soul and allows me to take charge of my life and achieve balance in all I do.
Our lives today are essentially the sum of our habits, how fit we are, how happy we are, how successful we are, it’s all a result of what we’ve always done, and what we repeatedly do. It’s not so much about breaking those habits, more about interrupting them and installing new ones, which is exactly what I’ve done to maximise my time and reclaim my new found energy.
As human beings, we often fall short of goals and dreams for one reason or another, but I’m totally focussed on making this new life work, blocking any distractions that may prevent me from living my best life. Learning is a passion of mine and I love to grow my mind, accumulating new life hacks that help me adapt as I go. The growth mindset I’ve developed thanks to my bookshelf has definitely made a difference this last few months. Less snappy with the children, better at taking responsibility, less care about the shape of my legs whilst I live in shorts and less need to prove myself in everything I do.
Fundamentally I’ve changed, a lot. I’m not saying there was anything wrong with the original me, we had fun and I’m still here, still goofy, still attempting to be funny, but adapting to the easy going, slowed down Australian lifestyle suits me just fine and I need it. Life is short and we only get one roll of the dice so if I can adapt my lifestyle to increase the longevity of this game, I’m all in.
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Written by Editor, Rhian Cable
#workkidssleep
Mum, Wife, Marketing Specialist and Blogger – Living life every minute.
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Beautiful reflection of where you are in life and a glimpse of what is happening right now. Self reflections are such an important part of the journey.