One of the first exercises I do with health coaching clients is the Circle of Life, as it’s a great visual picture of aspects which are fulfilling at this stage of your life, and which need a bit more love and focus.
To feel truly happy and healthy, most of us need to feel satisfied in a range of aspects, including health, physical activity, home cooking, home environment, relationships, social life, joy, spirituality, creativity, finances, career and education.
Welcome to Relocation Recap, a regular feature on the Health & Wellness Revolution blog – sharing the relocation experiences of people from across the world.
Feeling alone is a common challenge of relocation.
This interview series aims to shines light on the many ways you can feel more connected, inspired and capable when moving from your comfort zone to somewhere new and unfamiliar.
You may well read about someone who faced similar challenges to your own, and surmounted them. As you can too.
If you, or anyone you know, would like to be featured in this interview series, please contact Kylie here.
To be clear from the start – this post is about me.
Oh, and thousands of other expat partners around the world, male and female.
Because let’s face it, the chance of both people getting a well-paying job is nigh impossible in many expat locations. Most countries have visa conditions that restrict employment and business opportunities for the accompanying partner, often for the very sound reason of protecting opportunities for their local workforce.
However, if you are used to financially contributing to the partnership, this can hurt.
I know. Moving my business a few years ago from in-person coaching in Australia, to online coaching worldwide, caused a considerable decline in my personal income.
I haven’t handled it well, despite my husband frequently assuring me the income he earns is family income.
I live on a tropical island. I have two healthy girls and husband. I enjoy my work. We have income sufficient for what we need. We have people around the world and nearby who we love, and who love us.
Yet I’m still not happy.
What! Why?
I know. I’m sounding like a selfish b**ch.
Yet I know I’m not alone in feeling this way.
Simply observing clients, friends, social media posts and magazine articles ensures I don’t fall down the rabbit hole of comparisonitis and self-doubt.
Most people, as far as I can tell, are okay at best.
How are you?
Fine thanks.
Do you remember when you last had someone respond with ‘Awesome!’ or ‘I simply couldn’t be better’.
Are we all just holding it together?
Purely surviving. Not thriving?
Not happy?
Since having children 11 and 9 years ago, my husband and I have lived in three states of Australia, and two South Pacific Islands – Tonga and Vanuatu.
We’ve also been happily homeless for a year, when the girls were age 1 and 3, touring Australia with a camper trailer.
There have been lots of challenges along the way, but many more wonderful opportunities.
Check out this 19 minute interview with Emmy Petersson on Expat TV. We chat about my top tips for moving with a family, how to work best as a team, and also ways in which moving has become easier now we are moving as a family.
For every woman I meet who loves her weekly tea & coffee group, there is another who hates the very concept.
Some see these groups as a dynamic exchange of ideas, an information gathering exercise, getting them out of the house and into new friendships.
Others see them as being filled with petty small talk of the negative and whining variety, dominated by a few opinionated souls who treat the occasions as their personal platform.
Wherever you sit on the tea & coffee group spectrum, there are many other ways to make new friends in a new location.
This year we tried something new.
Once a week we travelled back in time. Not many decades. Just two or three.
Okay, not literally. But knowing this was common practice not that long ago reassured us it could be done.
Once a week – for the entire day – we went screen-free. No computer. No TV. No Kindle. No smart phone. Only phone calls and cameras allowed.
Did I just hear you gasp?
Yes, I did the same when my husband suggested it. Was it possible to go without screens for an entire day? More importantly, did I really want to?
Living overseas is a rollercoaster of emotions for many.
Wonderful new experiences and friendships, interspersed with moments of acute homesickness.
Particularly at times of celebration or commiseration.
Weddings, funerals, christenings, milestone birthdays.
And most definitely holidays.
Self care is doing things that light you up, that inspire you, that nourish you – your body, mind and spirit.
You. Not the people around you.
You!
Self care is any intentional action toward physical, mental and emotional health.
Nutrition. Movement. Sleep. Relaxation. Play. Creativity. Spirituality. Joy.
Feeling alone is a common challenge of relocation.
This interview series aims to shines light on the many ways you can feel more connected, inspired and capable when moving from your comfort zone to somewhere new and unfamiliar.
You may well read about someone who faced similar challenges to your own, and surmounted them. As you can too.
If you, or anyone you know, would like to be featured in this interview series, please contact Kylie here.
If you, or they, would like to read more, become a newsletter subscriber here, and receive a free gift for doing so.
