EAT, PRAY AND MIND THE CROCS!

Beginnings are like many strings wound tightly into a ball. You’re never quite sure where one began and one ended until you start unraveling them. And even then, some overlap or get tangled together.

So when did I decide to start this journey? Even as a child I was always curious and BORED! Terminally bored in fact, was the way I would describe my small town childhood. I wanted to move. To experience life. To travel. To see and do exciting things. And so when I grew up, I traveled Europe for a few blissful, energising, enlightening years…. but Life happens. Somehow I ended settled again, this time in the UK.

Over the years I gained a very successful and well paid career with several other fleeting jobs to keep me even more occupied on the side. I had looked after my parents and sister in England, until their deaths and even  managed to pay the house off. And I had been with a partner for 17 long years. It was then that my body decided to make me take notice of what was really happening, as my brain had obviously switched off. My stress levels were frying me! As the pain and anxiety took its’ toll and I ended up unable to work for months, I realised I hadn't wanted to be here for a very long time. I wanted to finish work. Was it then that I decided to start the journey? Well, no, though that was when my partner and I amicably split and I returned to Australia.

Was it on my return to Australia? Well I had intended to begin a whole new life of more living in the ‘now’ instead of the ‘tomorrow’, which had been my ethos all my life to that point. You know, earn as much as you can today so you can have that big house tomorrow. To be truthful I no longer wanted the big house (been there, done that, did not enjoy the experience). Nor the successful, top role job. In fact, money was no longer my God in any way. I was back to being a kid again. I wanted to LIVE! To enjoy life. And for a year I did! I met some amazing people (even worked as an 'extra' on TV shows and films- best job EVER!) and explored the city and its sights, its smells, its sounds. But, then, somehow, I ended back into the same old groove that I had been used to. An apartment in Melbourne. (In fact , 4 apartments over 4years as I found it hard to settle.)  A stable job (with AWESOME colleagues/friends though!). Part of my wonderful family close by. And so came the second crash.

Again unable to work and even move from bed because of the pain, this time I went to a Specialist who happily informed me not to worry. There was a reason for the pain, the brain fog, the dizziness and nausea, the high anxiety and the all the other wonderful symptoms that were presenting. I had Fibromyalgia. Permanent Fibromyalgia.

It was then I decided to start my journey!

All my life I had been trying to make my journey happen. It wasn’t just a journey about travel, about seeing beautiful places or wonderful new experiences. It was a journey to find ME. A journey to find where my soul would find the peace and happiness that is so elusive in life. I knew that time was running out to do that now. At 58, with little money and little health…. It was time.

So, I sold or gave away everything I possessed  that would not fit into my 2005 ex-ambulance, Mercedes Sprinter. One which I’d bought and had converted to a small, very basic Motorhome, as cheaply as I could. My plan was..... not to have a plan. Other than to travel around Australia for as long as it took. There were to be no ties left that would hold my spirit back.  As a good friend laughingly told me it was like the book/movie, ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, only in my case ..’Eat, Pray, and watch the Crocs!’

 Oh. And why  'the Grey Chihuahua'? Well traveling Australia as a Grey Nomad plus I love animals especially dogs and have been told I resemble a Chihuahua on occasion. Small, feisty and refuse to behave myself! (I think they mean do as others tell me I should do.)

So for now. Have a Great Day.

The Grey Chihuahua