5 things I've learned about life since the earthquake

It's been ages since I've blogged and I want to get back into it. So what better opportunity than to reflect on the last four months or so since we have been in Wellington. We have learned so much and appreciate our lives and each other and all our gifts and talents so much more now.

1. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger

My daughter and I have just become so close and opened up to each other so much this year. I feel that I am in a privileged position being her mum and connected to such a wonderful person. We are living in a tiny place and contrary to how that could have gone, it hasn't killed us but has instead made us so much stronger as a parent and child, or even two co-cohabiting adults. As well as that, we have knuckled down and really moved ahead with our work and our goals and dreams. We've reevaluated the paths society says we and especially she should take and feel that as individuals we know ourselves better too. Admittedly, my agoraphobia is back but that feels curable, I am positive. And when it is sorted, look out world!


2. We have helped people feel good about themselves and make money too

So many people offered to help us move to Wellington and we jumped at the opportunity. The whole of New Zealand was amazing, getting together and offering help and accommodation to complete strangers, it was so beautiful. People want to help, they feel good about helping, and also the Red Cross helped the person we stayed two weeks with to the tune of about $500 which was much needed, and I feel so pleased for her that she was able to benefit financially, because if anyone deserves it, she does. But isn't it interesting how it turns out to be a win-win for both the helpers and the helped. So that made us feel good. Not only were they helping us, but we were helping them big time too!

Not everyone has enough Margin in their lives to be able to follow through with the help they'd dearly love to give, but the world is a better place for them having opened their hearts to it.

However, those that helped us, in whatever way large or small, have our unending gratitude. We will never forget it. So as well as the buzz they got from helping us, they have our loving gratitude till the end of time.


3. The world is a beautiful place

We have so landed on our feet in Aro Valley. Every night about 10pm we walk the dog - unless the rain is horizontal but that hardly ever happens. We walk and admire the cute houses and talk and talk and talk. We know each other so well now. Opportunities have come to us, people have shown up in our lives just when we need them. My daughter doesn't even go to school (she is doing correspondence school for the rest of the year) yet she has managed to meet art students and make friends etc and when she can, enjoy Wellington's coffee bar culture, very cool. We have neighbourhood friends, a garden patch where we've made more friends, not to mention the reunions with family and old school friends, what a hoot! And did I ever mention I happen to be up-close and personal with the most beautiful man on the planet. Yes, he's here in Wellington, New Zealand!

But if you ever come to Wellington, check out the beautiful Aro Valley, by far Wellington's coolest suburban community.


4. We can design our own future

I guess I touched on this in point 1. Now that we know ourselves better, strengths and weaknesses, and feel strong enough to thumb our nose at society if we want, we can design our own future. So what if we have almost been on skid row early into the piece. It was a fantastic way to look at living creatively and figure out how we want it to be. Different opportunities have opened up to me this year which I am so happy about. I had a chance to be part of an iPhone App project, and in my enthusiasm to help (see, doesn't helping feel great?) I paid for a course and upskilled myself. As a result my plans for my future have a new dimension. I have nearly finished my own eBook for Kindle (although admittedly I do have a wee way to go on a related iPhone App, but I'm getting there). It has opened up so many more opportunities and paired with the other work I am plodding along on, could cause a completely different future to happen.

Although of course, either way, whose future does not change direction after reacting to an earthquake and moving towns?

But anyone can change direction and re-design their futures. We are lucky because we are so flexible with our work and study and where we live etc. I think the creative poor can redesign their paths easier than the supposedly better-off who may be tied into positions working for The Man or The Government, depending on a certain level of income to support their lifestyles, simply because the so-called poor have less to lose if it all turns to custard.

About a month after we got here, we realised that we had really got ourselves into a bad situation financially (my reference to skid row), but it took us only about two weeks to get beyond the fear and choose to squeeze out every wonderful experience we possibly could out of the situation and our time in Wellington. Now we realise how lucky we are that that happened. It is too easy to be numb and let time swallow you up. No matter how little money you have, every moment can be cherished and celebrated and ones soul can still fly. To be time rich is surely the real wealth of life, particularly if those moments are enjoyed with amazing and inspiring people who cross your path. And time can create fantastic chances to learn, grow and improve.


5. We have new identities

I call myself a writer now. I love my eBook (keep watching this space) and I'm sure others will too. My daughter has also discovered what she is passionate about and has found people who support her in some of her dreams. We feel so blessed.

Life is good.