Counting down the days and looking back on the past

Hello peeps!

I am now less than 2wks away from departure day. It still doesn't feel real, but it is definitely happening!

By the time I leave, I would have been in the UK for exactly 8yrs 2wks 4days.

Looking back on that time, I feel I am a different person than the young and clueless graduate that got off the Eurostar at Waterloo that day long ago, and not just because I am (only) 2yrs older....

I have met amazing people during that time, from all corners of the world and paths of life. The UK is the only place I have found where all kind of people have a chance to shine, without being judged for how they look/talk/love.

I have worked for companies big and small, always earning respect from my peers. I even managed to get a job I had absolutely no qualifications for, but I still did very well. Talk about self confidence... :)

I have taken part in sports I would have never thought about before coming here - rugby, rowing, doing the GRIM, twice!

I met somebody I thought I could spend the rest of my days with.

I got a proper grown up car.

And last but not least - I have met myself and accepted who I am.

I don't know what the next 15 months will bring, but whatever comes my way I think the Angela that will come back will be different compared to the Angela of right now.

I guess this is what life is about - change.

I only usually reflect on how much things have evolved when I am on the brink of some drastic change, but it is an on-going process. Every day is a learning, every encounter bring a new perspective but it is very easy to lose sight of this when stuck in the daily grind.

I went to this NLP training earlier this year and the guy said something I think is very true: until you put yourself in the driving seat, you will always be disappointed with life because nobody else can take charge of your happiness.

I wish I could find a way to bottle this feeling so I could keep it with me when I come back and have a little taste once in a while. Just so I can remember to stop, look around and see rather than simply pass through the days, waiting for something good, anything, to happen.

This will be my challenge for the next 15 months!

Smile people :)

By the way - chicken pox are all gone now, yay!