On Our Own Tracks

Where really is the love in our lives???

Always laughing. Constantly being excited about the next adventure. Having countless life changing experiences within a few months. Having various opportunities to learn and grow. Having a variety of experiences suddenly popping up in front of me that equipped me with the skills I need to achieve a range of life time goals. Being surrounded by amazing people who would do absolutely anything for me… I can now truly say “THIS IS LIVING!!!”

A few months ago I wrote a piece about my journey to finding happiness (see in On the journey to finding my personal pursuit of happiness). Honestly, at that time I had the expectation that soon after I finished writing the blog I would be finding myself becoming a massive hypocrite. That I would be finding myself going into that same black hole all over again.

Fortunately, to my astonishment, this hasn’t been the case. Over the past few months I have witnessed my life progress in a number of amazing ways.

These have ranged from going to huge events such as the Sydney Mardi Gras and going to the city with my wonderful friends to receiving a range of work assignments and opportunities that have both potentially raised my profile for my future career in journalism, and provided me with a chance to earn my own income.

I have also continued loving meeting friends at university, as well as getting the chance to work with my team of amazing carers.

Recently, I started the process of moving out of home by trialling living with two of my friends two nights a week and I have also started my blog, which has received so much positive and uplifting support.

As I think of these things, I start to wonder, “Where did everything start to change?” What was, or were, the key points where everything changed for the better in my story?

As I started to think about this, I started to realise that the “changing point” was actually many bursts of little changing ‘steps’.

I feel that one of the most significant of these steps happened last June when I had surgery removing a lump on my throat. I think it was the reaction afterwards from my friends and family that inspired me the most. My family came from everywhere, took time off work to support me and sent me flowers. Also, my friends sent so many messages to me and my family, just to see if I was ok. I guess the reason why this warmed and effected me so much was because this taught me that I really did have something that was right there at my fingertips. That thing was love, and although it wasn’t the love I’d been seeking from “the one”, I was lucky enough to have all of this love from literally thousands of people.

As time went on this realisation continued to grow. Soon after my surgery, I was lucky enough to go on a fantastic snow trip with one of my brilliant carers and best friends, Alison (as seen in Exploring our australian winter while having fun just like everyone else). Going on this trip was absolutely incredible. Just being able to relax and have a girls’ trip was amazing. I was able to go skiing, hang with Alison, do “girly stuff” as well as get to see my sister and meet heaps of new people. I feel that the reason why this was a pivotal ‘changing step’ is because it was a refreshing trip as well as giving me a sense that there was a whole world of fun out there, with interesting, lovely people that I can meet and go on adventures with.

A few months after this, I realised that all sorts of ideas were sprouting. These included: realising the idea of trialling moving in with my friends Louise and Dave; going through the processes of interviewing and meeting my awesome care team and playing around with, and getting advise about, starting my blog.

Then came another big ‘changing step’ on my trip up to Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay with my family and one of my best friends, Emma from Ability Surf (see in Whats waiting for you future surfers with a disability at the magic miles). I feel that this particular trip was the final ‘changing step’ on this journey. I felt that, just like the ski trip, this was also my chance to get away and relax, meet new people and be ‘wild’, having the best time just like any other young person my age.

During my trip to Byron Bay, I also got a chance to talk to my family and mates about changing the name, appearance and purpose of my blog.

Soon after this trip, and all these ‘changing steps’, everything started to settle nicely and I finally began to see a purpose for my life. I am now ready for my next adventures with the love from thousands of my family and friends, and all of the awesome people I am yet to meet.

For you, all I can say is, “Why not look for your own ‘changing point’?” You can always start with looking around to see where your love from thousands is coming from.