Peace

Haven’t had time in a while to sit and look back, so I’m writing few words. This change has been a rollercoaster!

Initially what I had in mind was to move from New Zealand to Australia, work and live here, then travel back from time to time to New Zealand, keep somehow things running over there, keep in touch with people etc.

Reality is I had to close my business there, I’m halfway through the process of closing bank accounts and other things, had to start everything over again here: health, taxes, car, driver license, bank, credit cards, etc. Not that I had not planned to, but it was all in one go and I’m just starting to feel peace or at least to feel like things are normal now; meaning no longer needing to buy the essentials but going out mostly to enjoy the local places or activities, having some time to relax, and finally feeling calm and happy about the changes.

To be honest closing my little business was painful, still hurts, but I’ve accepted it.

Another leg of this story is the stress and uncertainty during this transition. In the first job I had here, things started well, but somehow the honeymoon ended soon and the general mood at the office started to get toxic, I’m not sure about the reasons, maybe it was because from one day to the next all everyone in the office was mandated to get back to the office at least 3 days a week, but most people had already joined the company because of the flexibility or 100% remote policy we enjoyed up to that time. Some people even got houses far away from the city, assuming things were going to stay 100% remote.

So right at the beginning of the year, only couple months into the new job I had to start checking for options, while at the same time take care of my kid transition to a new school.

If you haven’t been there, the beginning of the year is the worst time to look for a job, and looking for a change only after couple months of switching roles is also a really bad place to be.

But I found something really nice and I’m happy now.

Comparison is the enemy of joy, so I don’t want to compare New Zealand or Australia, or to compare first job here and current job. To me life is about experiences.

Sometimes we assume peace is the absence of conflict or problems, but from another viewpoint peace is about accepting the past, hoping for the future and enjoying the present as life unfolds.

“Peace comes through hope.” — James E Faust

So at this point in life, after different trials and tribulations I’m simply starting to enjoy the calm feeling of peace after the storm, living in the present, and that’s enough for me.

 “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” — Lao Tzu

Photo by Thom David Boca on Unsplash