Flight to Australia Blog
Part I
As recent blog readers will know, these are crazy times in my life. My work as a trainee foundation medic is over. I have packed up my life in Manchester, and now I am typing on my laptop while drinking Gin & Tonics at an altitude of 39000 ft. This will be my first time visiting the Southern Hemisphere and Australia. Why bother with onboard entertainment when you can write and drink unlimited alcohol ?…?
Since the end of my goodbyes, I have been waiting for this moment. It wasn’t easy to enjoy this moment because the past three months were so long. Now that it is here, I feel that classic feeling: ‘Am I taking it all in, or am I letting this exciting journey pass me by?
The question that I have been asking myself a lot in the last week is, “why are we moving?”
It may seem like an obvious question – who wouldn’t want to move from the US to Australia, with its postcard-perfect beaches and glorious weather? It hasn’t been as obvious in the past, particularly since the last few weeks, when the reality of the move began to sink in.
It was because I felt I had it all in Manchester, especially for my stage of life. I shared a beautiful house with my girlfriend, and we were able to get along well. The house was located in a great area with lots of things going on nearby. The social scene was thriving, and I felt fortunate to be surrounded by some really close friends. I was very proud of the Gaelic football team I played on, and I also belonged to a local golfing club. The hospital where I worked was very supportive, and I would have been able to continue working there for at least another year if I wanted. Hannah and I chose to leave.
The rest of this blog will explain my reasoning I do not doubt about;
- The right thing to do is to move on
- Change is almost always good
Part II
The last time I flew long distance was when I went to Nepal to do my medical elective. The experience was probably the most bizarre of my entire life. It was my first solo trip to the most crowded, diverse cultural place I’ve ever visited. It was a big adjustment. It took a while to get used to. They included:
- You’re a fool for going to Nepal alone.
- I am grateful that I was.
This trip has been mentioned on my blog several times, as I see it now as a life-changing experience. This was a trip I found challenging because I often felt alone in a large place without any immediate support or company. I hadn’t experienced this level of loneliness before. It changed me. It was a trip that challenged me a lot because I felt very alone in such a big place without immediate support or companionship, something I had never experienced before and which changed me to some extent.
In Kathmandu, I was lost in a YouTube rabbit hole one evening when I came across the guys from Yes Theory/Seek Discomfort. I could relate to their content, especially at that time of great discomfort. The group is made up of guys who make videos that encourage people to push themselves out of their comfort zones and try new things. They believe that being comfortable does not promote growth or progress. I was hooked by this message.
How does my experience in Nepal and with the Seek Discomfort guys influence my decision to move from Australia?
The reality I realized this year is that, while I’ve had a great time in Manchester, I didn’t push myself as hard as I should have. I’ve not been uncomfortable, so to continue progressing, I had to move forward.
Life isn’t all about exhausting yourself to the point of being miserable. The pandemic forced everyone to slow down. Travel and most social activities were not possible. As a result, many of us became comfortable with our surroundings. I was definitely one of those people.
Part III
Our plane is about to cross Australia’s westernmost coast as I write this. Our flight will take us to Melbourne; then, we’ll switch to another plane that will take us to Gold Coast. The flight tracker is on my screen, and I feel as uncomfortable as I’ve felt in years. It’s starting to sink in how far away we are. I feel every mile. The thoughts of “what are you doing d-turl?” are definitely circulating again.
It is reassuring to know that, at a deep level, these are the things that make life worth living. Feelings of excitement are not far below the surface.
It’s not necessary to travel in order to experience discomfort. But you must be honest with yourself. It would be best if you focused your attention on an area in your life where you feel you are holding yourself back.
You may be surprised at how quickly your weaknesses can become strengths. I can guarantee that getting uncomfortable will give you more satisfaction than doing things you know you enjoy or are good at.
It was much harder than I thought it would be to leave my family and friends. It seems wild to leave our familiar surroundings and the people we love and know for one another. This article has hopefully helped explain why we could not turn down the opportunity. The experience will be worth it, regardless of any discomfort. It may be time to move on from your current lifestyle, job, or social group.