She's back, its been a minute.
Truth is my little hobby, side hustle and golden ticket to remote working has been put to one side for the last year. My creativity has only been projected through my social media accounts and even at that its been pretty poor. Truth is creating a life down under hasn't been as easy as it seems on those sparkly grids you scroll by pondering 'those living their best lives' while your on the bus into the city wondering 'there has to be more to life than this' well i'am here to tell you that where ever you are in the world, regardless where you are in the world it's our thoughts that control our reality.
From the age of 19 I have always done a Houdini when the going got tough, my first runaway destination was Ibiza at 22 years old for a summer, I returned to Edinburgh for 2 years and at 24 decided to travel the world and since then I have never stopped, but only now at 35 have I learnt 'happiness isn't a postcode' ashamed to admit it but its the truth. I always associated happiness as freedom and although that's absolutely what sets my soul on fire, you can't take a sabbatical from your brain, its working in coherence with your soul is what that truly sets us free.
The catalyst to this acceptance has been learnt for me through travelling, in the moments where our kids have been sick while on a small remote island South of Thailand with a population of 800 people, or 12 hour bus rides through Cambodia with a screaming child without the support or restbite of grandparents support, school or kindergarten. Its living in those moments of true raw fucking chaos that you need to dip into your mindset and understand the tools you can lean on in the depth of emotional diss regulation when in complete uncertainty and those emotions regardless of circumstance you experience where ever you are in the world.
Travelling, Parenthood and Mental Health are in alignment in my opinion when you consider the outcomes of each as an experience, they all force you to become resilient, your self awareness is perpetuated, your ability to become self reflective is deepened and you are literally forced to live in the unknown. The last year living in the Gold Coast has allowed me to truly develop the confidence to truly not give one jot about what others think of me and the path we choose to walk, the gratitude I have for my friends and family deepens every time I leave home, my relationship with Boab becomes stronger, our childrens lifestyle and their view of the world becomes more sparkly, taking part in new sports, experiences and new cultures just develops an even more insightful idea of the souls they'll grow up to be. I believe travel has allowed them to spend more time outdoors, taking part in cultural activities, a source of reflection when undertstanding gratitude for their own existence.
For now, we are based in the Gold Coast since our 2 months in Bali in October. I'am working in my dream job as a mental health clinician supporting youths impacted by complex trauma using holistic modalities working with a class group of women, immersing ourselves in the golden lifestyle, meeting new friends and spending each weekend the way we would as if we were on holiday.
Our next chapter at SOULFUL is named, becoming. Hope you join us through our blogs or on socials linked on site.
:-) x
Brilliant read Dan, I hadn't realised how much I missed your regular words of wisdoms until I saw the email reading The Soulful Society. I really value how you let people in on your journey around the world, journey as a mum to two beautiful kids, as a partner and a business woman and all the while making it work in a different country, outstanding. The good the bad and the ugly experience with each experience had, your transparency on it all is admirable and I would just like to say "you are f*kin rocking it gal." I'm glad your back and I very much look forward to hearing more of your journey, its inspiring.