We were not one of those families who found the notion of moving to Europe daunting. In fact, it was a challenge that we welcomed despite our minute level of understanding when it came to the new way of life that this part of the world would soon unveil to us. Did this new way of life bring challenges? Unequivocally YES, however we embraced them. The challenge of new cultures and traditions, highways without speed limits, a new level of isolation from family & friends and even the inability to read basic labelling on the packaging of our food, all of this, a challenge? Yes, but one we were honored to have been chosen to take on. We relished this “challenge”, actually truly began to thrive in it.
Like in every great book there must be a final chapter which most often times is followed by the desire and aspiration to start a new book, explore a new story and so began OUR new story, our journey home back to Canada, our journey home. These new chapters would be filled with reunions with our family and friends, shopping at Costco;), seeing our beautiful flag flying high across the skyline, we were so ready for this, or so I thought.
After the initial few weeks and months of reunions, chaos and excitement that come with moving back home, the inevitable quietness set in. In this stillness, I began to reflect upon what life was going to be like without these “challenges” and experiences we had become so fond of embracing, so accustomed to. I mean this was Canada, we knew everything there was to know about it, we knew the culture & traditions, the language, the insane cost of travel and food, this was all familiar to us, so how would we continue to flourish and cultivate new ideals if there would no longer be any unfamiliar trials or tribulations, no pristine challenges and adventures to help us evolve as individuals, or as a family for that matter, I mean we were already SME’s in the relocation business, right?
After 6 months of now being back on this side of the ocean I have come to the realization that although we prepared for the obvious; new house, new jobs (or lack thereof), new schools, new living costs and of course the inevitable reverse culture shock, there was one subject that this so-called expert did not prepare for. Grief. Yup, you read that right. Grief. Grieving of the emotional attachment to this life we just lived, the adventures and learning experiences, the community, the country, all of it had become a part of us, and although it will forever be engrained in memory, it would no longer be a tangible aspect of our day to day life. This my friends, you never think to mentally or emotionally prepare for, this my friends, is your new “Challenge”.
Out of this grief or sense of loss we are now becoming aware of how our new reality will push us to continue to evolve as individuals, and as a family. It will require us to hone in on the gifts of resiliency, adventurous spirit and mutual respect and support that we spent the last four years developing and strengthening. We now must put those qualities and virtues to use in helping each other to start over, helping us to create new stories, new experiences and prepare ourselves for this new unknown still to come, our future.
My advice; Think about this, talk about this (really talk!), reach out to your support systems and make realistic expectations for yourself and your family and above all, grieve and give yourselves time. They do say time is the healer of all things and in time, you will find joy in the nuances of this next chapter and you will forever be grateful for the gifts and challenges you have acquired and overcome along the journey home.
Challenge, accepted!