A year of change and growth
2019 – A Year in Review.
Where did the year go?
2019 has been a year of change and growth for me in many ways.
My husband Erik and I sold our home in Melbourne, packed our belongings and moved up to sunny Brisbane in January of this year to start the next chapter of our lives. We based ourselves in Bayside Brisbane where we spent the next 10 months exploring Brisbane and getting to know our way around.
I returned to the workforce after taking almost 2 years off to raise our beautiful little boy Aiden. It was quite an adjustment going back to work three days per week and having our son attend childcare, but I feel it was the best decision we made as a family. Aiden has absolutely flourished and is developing into such a happy, well rounded little boy. I have also gained so much more confidence and learnt many new skills in my role at Tardis Advice.
After months of house hunting and attending open for inspections, we bought a house in November. We are very excited and still can’t believe we have found our dream home. We have sufficient space to plant a food forest with Aiden ranging free. Thank goodness we love it as I don’t want to move house again for a very long time!
This year I wanted to try a new hobby and express my creative side. I attended a Macrame wall hanging workshop at Knotted Honey Studio in Camp Hill and discovered that I absolutely love it. I have since made numerous plant hangers, wall hangings, and other Macrame crafts as wholesome gifts for friends and pieces of art for our new home, which dovetails well with my husband’s plant collections.
These are the big changes. There have, of course, been other big and not so big changes through the year.
2019. It was a year of huge growth for me.
I have learnt a lot about myself this year. Primarily, that I tend to stick inside my comfort zone. I like the familiarity and comfort it brings. This year has taken me well outside my comfort zone. Leaving the familiarity of our townhouse, neighbourhood, family and friends and moving to a city where we knew hardly anyone. There were moments of huge discomfort and loneliness and it had me wondering if we’d done the right thing. Putting Aiden into care and trusting someone other than family to care for him. It was a huge change and a major adjustment for everyone - those first few weeks of drop offs are just heartbreaking!
2019 also reminded me that change brings many positives. So many opportunities are missed when we don’t get out of our comfort zone. I feel more connected to Erik and Aiden then I did at the start of the year. Perhaps it is because we have shared in the changes of 2019 and grew together. Perhaps it is because with these changes we have changed our lifestyle. The time we spend together is of real quality. It is not so much about just being together but really enjoying the opportunities of life.
During some of the tough periods of the year I was able to reflect. I reminded myself why I made the decision to step outside of my comfort zone and into the discomfort of the unknown. Erik and I had made a conscious decision to simplify our life. To slow it down, spend more quality time together and connect with nature. We were willing to endure the trials and tribulations of change in order to make this happen.
What I take from this whole experience, is that I want to incorporate more of this in my everyday life. To step outside of my comfort zone and try new things, for this to be a natural way to grow.
Getting out of your comfort zone isn’t easy, but it is where the magic happens.
Dani Van Zuilekom