Already, it is all I wanted it to be, and more. Coming to the end of my first month in Australia, into the biggest trust-fall of my life so far, I feel at home. It’s true what they say, though, the people make the place. So, this update is less about the things I’ve done and the places I’ve been, and more about the people that have made this journey what it is.
A cancelled flight before even reaching the airport threw me a little – preparing for the goodbye only to have the blessing of one more day in New Zealand and nothing to do with it. But the next morning, after a teary farewell, I touched down in Brisbane. The sight of the land instantly lifted my spirit. A symbol of freedom, of change. That first day I met up with Liv, a friend from Uni, and she gave me a tour of the city. So lovely after years of not seeing each other to share time, dreams, and feel as though not much has changed at all. To revisit a sense of an old home in the potential creation of a new one.
The next day, I was off to Byron Bay. I understand why people become so enamored with the town, and the people I met there shaped this journey for me. Upon arriving I instantly bonded with one of my roommates, Emma. From there, we formed a beautiful group of women solo travelling and shared our time in Byron together. My sister joined us a couple of days in, too, which was beautiful. These women gave me faith that connection can come so naturally and feel so safe. It reminded me of the power of a smile, of an invitation. It brought so much joy to a period that I thought would potentially feel hard and lonely.
After 5 days in Byron, I caught the 14-hour night bus to Sydney. I could justify it as part of my backpacking experience but can’t say that I’ll be doing it again in a hurry. Imagine trying to sleep on a plane with constant turbulence and stopping every hour or so…not fun. From the city, I caught the ferry to Manly, a vibrant surf-town with stunning beaches, and stayed there for 4 nights. The hostel that I was staying in wasn’t as social as the last, so I had some time to recharge on my own. Then, I headed to the city for a couple of days and met back up with Emma (an unintentional synchronicity). It was such an unexpected blessing to feel like I’d made a best friend in two weeks and such a heart-opening experience.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been outside of Sydney in the Blue Mountains, volunteering at a retreat centre. I’ll post another piece elaborating on my experience here because I’m still processing and I’m still in it. However, I know that it has already been transformational. Although it is a gorgeous setting, surrounded by native bush and fairy-tale-like buildings, again, it’s the people that are making it so special. Everyone here is so in touch with their inner child and it’s beautiful. They dance wherever there’s music and sing when there’s not. They skip down the street and hug and laugh, just for the joy of doing it. They are so full of life and there’s a lot that I’m learning from them and from being part of this community. It’s healing, being here. Healing my social conditioning, my heart, my spirit, the way I relate to people, the way I relate to nature, to myself. I can feel myself filling up again in places that held so much yearning for so long. This gets to be my life for now and I don’t want to think it’s too good to be true. I asked for it, I took the chance, and I have received.
