New

This is a time of year that brings new starts (in the Northern Hemisphere anyway...sorry to all you Kiwis/South Africans/Aussies etc. whose academic years don't arbitrarily start in September!)

New starts...new challenges...new opportunities. Anticipation, fear, excitement, hope, all wrapped up in the new.

I've had my fair share of new starts. Moving to South Africa, starting my undergrad degree, moving to New Zealand, moving back to the UK, starting a Masters. And now, whatever now is. In each of those new starts, I've learned a lesson or two. Or ten. So, if you're sitting comfortably, cup of tea in hand, maybe a biscuit, I'd like to share just a few of the things I've learned.

1. Wherever you go, that's where you'll be. Profound, I know! A new place does not necessarily mean a new you. Too many times, my restlessness and resultant moves and new starts have been about running away. It took me a long time to realise that when you're running away from yourself, you're not going to get very far. I eventually realised that I had to stop blaming the place, the people, the past and see that the issues were in me and could only be sorted out when I stopped running, turned around and faced them.

2. There's usually a honeymoon period. Sadly, it's not normally reflective of normal life. When I was in my early twenties, I went to South Africa four times. The times I spent there were exciting, full of adventures and new things, far from boring. I hated leaving and often just wanted to stay and live there. In fact, that was my plan when I finished university. It didn't work out, and looking back now, I think I would have been disillusioned. I was never there long enough to experience the daily grind, normal life, which is completely different from the honeymoon period. The place where you do normal life, while not always glamorous, is the place you need to invest yourself.

3. On that note, my next point: you get out what you put in. Well, I'm not the first person to say that by any means! I think this requires some intentional decision making. If you're constantly looking to the next thing, to somewhere else, you're never going to be happy where you are. Even if you know you're not going to be there forever, even if it's only for a ten week university term, what do you need to do to invest in where you are right now - the community, the people, how you fill your days?

4. Microadventures! This is something I've learned recently and it's great. At a time of year when people are often returning from exciting holidays and adventures, it can be hard to settle into the seemingly mundane. However, adventure does not have to come in the shape of a month backpacking through Asia. It could be a walk/run out to a local waterfall followed by a wild swim or a drive to a random little town you've never been to. Get creative. Especially if you are somewhere new - there are so many things to explore! Go on adventures, wherever you are!

5. Get to know new and old people! Others who are new and in the same situation will understand at least part of where you're at. And those who are far from new will have a wealth of knowledge and experience. They were once where you are. And they may be able to tell you of some places to go for adventures (and also where the best coffee spots are - in this way, they may be vital to your survival).

I hope some of that is helpful for whatever your new thing is. However you feel about it, there are probably a lot of others who feel or have felt the same thing. And one day, you'll be one of those 'old' people able to tell the new ones where to go for coffee!