Thank you for sharing this adventure and what you learned from it. "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,' said Mark Twain. Such true words. You can't help but grow on a travel journey to a far away land.
I've lived in a country far, far away from my home for about 40 years now. Although I'm at home here, I'm not like the people around me whose home was always here. I never thought about it before, but perhaps that's a part of why I've felt more and more like 'me' with every passing year.
Love this! I experienced the same thing when I travelled solo. Fell in love with people who didn’t know other versions of me. Made friends who didn’t know other versions of me. I was completely myself. And it was deeply healing - and that showed in my physical health, too!
This! Expat life truely gave me a chance to be myself, there was constant movement and change, in friendships, as I travelled by myself, with others, and after 7 years when I returned I returned as a different version of me. Expat life profoundly changed who I am and my belief sets to experience so much more in this life X
Ah that’s amazing Carla. I’ve had a couple of living abroad experiences that I feel like also changed me a lot, but never for that long. I imagine the experiences were incredible!
This was just a fabulous read. And I am so with you. Now that my sister and brother know I am writing they are different and positive words come out. But when I tell them about something new I did, they say but thats not you. You never did that. 🌸 A refreshing insight.
This truly speaks to me because I have never truly felt like I belong anywhere, except when I’m not where I’m “supposed” to be. Not where people have “expectations” or preconceived notions about who I am. The concept of freedom is so relative that it’s almost laughable to feel freer around people who don’t know the real you, because maybe—just maybe—they do. They know the more uninhibited, less palatable version of you. And they accept it because it’s what you show them. They accept it because they don’t expect something different. I’d give anything to have that daily.
So relatable! I always feel more free to be myself around strangers. I am extra conscious of my struggle currently as I recently stepped out of marketing back into writing/coaching. It's hardest talking to those who know me. I think a lot of it is the "assumptions about assumptions" that you note. I need to avoid mind reading. Thank you for this.
lovely read! funnily enough, my favourite jobs i’ve ever done were working as an elf in lapland, and working on english camps - where organising regular dance breaks was absolutely part of my job 🥲 so doesn’t sound ridiculous to me, i think you’re right!
Oooh that's a lovely one. It's also interesting from a, how can we turn it into something everyday, perspective. If we can't travel far, how do we change the daily stimulus like you say, but do it with smaller, more feasible things. Hmmm!!
You told them you were a writer? You didn't lie. You are a very good writer. Others don't define you. You do.
Thanks so much Ernie ☺️
Thank you for sharing this adventure and what you learned from it. "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,' said Mark Twain. Such true words. You can't help but grow on a travel journey to a far away land.
This really made me think!
Thank you!
I've lived in a country far, far away from my home for about 40 years now. Although I'm at home here, I'm not like the people around me whose home was always here. I never thought about it before, but perhaps that's a part of why I've felt more and more like 'me' with every passing year.
Love this! I experienced the same thing when I travelled solo. Fell in love with people who didn’t know other versions of me. Made friends who didn’t know other versions of me. I was completely myself. And it was deeply healing - and that showed in my physical health, too!
This! Expat life truely gave me a chance to be myself, there was constant movement and change, in friendships, as I travelled by myself, with others, and after 7 years when I returned I returned as a different version of me. Expat life profoundly changed who I am and my belief sets to experience so much more in this life X
Ah that’s amazing Carla. I’ve had a couple of living abroad experiences that I feel like also changed me a lot, but never for that long. I imagine the experiences were incredible!
This was just a fabulous read. And I am so with you. Now that my sister and brother know I am writing they are different and positive words come out. But when I tell them about something new I did, they say but thats not you. You never did that. 🌸 A refreshing insight.
Thanks so much Brenda! Glad you enjoyed it. My siblings (also a brother and a sister) are like this as well!
This is so insightful, Imogen, and so well written. It’s amazing how small the box other people put us in can become.
This truly speaks to me because I have never truly felt like I belong anywhere, except when I’m not where I’m “supposed” to be. Not where people have “expectations” or preconceived notions about who I am. The concept of freedom is so relative that it’s almost laughable to feel freer around people who don’t know the real you, because maybe—just maybe—they do. They know the more uninhibited, less palatable version of you. And they accept it because it’s what you show them. They accept it because they don’t expect something different. I’d give anything to have that daily.
So relatable! I always feel more free to be myself around strangers. I am extra conscious of my struggle currently as I recently stepped out of marketing back into writing/coaching. It's hardest talking to those who know me. I think a lot of it is the "assumptions about assumptions" that you note. I need to avoid mind reading. Thank you for this.
lovely read! funnily enough, my favourite jobs i’ve ever done were working as an elf in lapland, and working on english camps - where organising regular dance breaks was absolutely part of my job 🥲 so doesn’t sound ridiculous to me, i think you’re right!
Oooh that's a lovely one. It's also interesting from a, how can we turn it into something everyday, perspective. If we can't travel far, how do we change the daily stimulus like you say, but do it with smaller, more feasible things. Hmmm!!