If you have been with me from the beginning of my journey, you will remember my first ever post. Click here if you need a refresher and don’t judge (it was my first time blogging). Today marks 6 years since I left my home and embarked on a new journey in the UK.
Where has the time gone?? Honestly, I cannot believe how I am 6 years down the line. How things have changed and how I have grown is amazing to look back on. It wasn’t the first time I had moved to a new country, but this was across on the other side of the world. I had to experience a culture shock of note. We are a different bread of human over there.
When I moved to the UK, I was a fresh early 20s girl with possibly a bit too much spunk and fear all coursing through my veins. The last time I came to the UK, I was 9 years old and it was different place back then. There I was, 23 years old and entering a massive change. Now I’m 29 and seen a bit more of life and learnt some lessons. Here are just a few.
Things I have learnt over the 6 years
To be honest, the list is so long I couldn’t begin to start listing everything. I’ll give the biggest lessons I have learnt.
- No one can make you happy, you have to make yourself happy – This one seems obvious but I had to learn it the hard way. When I got to the UK I was painfully unhappy and didn’t look for a way to change that. I wallowed in the misery. Now I look for things in everyday that can make me smile, be small things or big. Happiness is a choice and I have learnt to choose it everyday.
- Learn to enjoy your own company – I used to hate being alone. Someone always had to be around, even if I was in another room from them, I didn’t like not having someone around. Nowadays, I can honestly say I don’t mind it so much. In fact, it means I can get some blogging done. Being comfortable with your own company is really healthy and can help your relationships as well because you won’t need to be around others all the time. That can be quite exhausting for them.
- The grass is never greener somewhere else – Despite the UK being far more stable than Zimbabwe and has far less economic, political and industrial issues, it isn’t perfect. One thing (and potentially one of the only things) I miss about home is the beautiful weather. Yes I have lived in the UK for 6 years now so I can talk about the weather. Let’s be real for a second… UK weather absolutely SUCKS!!! I grew up with 300+ days of sunshine a year and the mildest climate in the world. Not a fan of the cold of wet… We give up one nicety, the weather, for another, economic and political stability. Now I saver the days where the sun does pop it’s head through the clouds.
- Don’t compromise yourself to fit in – I have always been a different kind of person, even back home. But it was never quite so prominent until I moved over here. I was foreign and different. What a combination. I tried to change things about myself to fit in and it just left me miserable and exhausted from all the play acting. About a year ago I decided NO I am who I am and I like who I am. This doesn’t mean we don’t compromise on things but don’t compromise who you are at the core to fit in and be accepted by other people. If they don’t accept you as you are they aren’t worth your time. Remember, you are amazing exactly how you are!!!
I could go on and on, but I will leave you with those 4 life lessons I learnt living on my own in the UK for the last 6 years.
I would love to hear what you think of these and if you have had to learn some tough life lessons after making a big change in your life.
Now I think it is time to celebrate🥂🍾
Until next time…
Great lessons! I definitely agree that you shouldn’t change who you are just to fit in more, and the weather here truly does suck, haha! Thanks for sharing x
I’m so glad you enjoyed. Always be yourself is my motto now 🙂 Thank you for reading
Well done! It seems that you have grown as a person. I agree that the grass is never greener.
Thank you Jamie. It’s important to remember nowhere is perfect and to find joy in where you are.
you mentioned so many great points here. it reminds me of the quote, “wherever you go, there you are.” i always thought to find happiness, i had to completely leave where i was & start fresh. sometimes it’s helpful but it’s never the answer to your problems. i think we all need to learn how to be happy on our own and with ourselves. easier said than done for sure. but i’m glad you have had that realization.
Thank you so much for reading and I so agree with what you have said. It’s important to be content where we are. I’m so glad you enjoyed my post
I’m so so happy you moved here as I now have a very amazing friend in my life. However I can definitely apologise for the whole nation for our awful weather hahah. Loved this post 🙂 xx
I love having you in my life Chloe. I am so grateful to have moved over here and met you. I’m so glad you enjoyed 🙂
These are some wonderful live lessons! Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
I’m so glad you enjoyed 🙂 thank you for taking the time to read 🙂
Some great points! I’ve lived in three cities in the UK and each one has its pros and cons, and it really annoys me when someone latches onto the idea that another place is amazing without ever having lived there. Or bemoans how awful their hometown is compared to everyone elses.
As for the weather, hehe, if you want to enjoy some truly tremendous British weather visit Scotland for a week 😉 We get all four seasons in a day sometimes. Last week we had thunder while it was sunny which was bizarre even for us!
I so agree with that. When someone moans about my country and they have never been there, I get quite ticked because I’m allowed to moan about because I grew up there.. Hahaha… I lived in Scotland briefly when I first got here and it wasn’t for me but the weather is pretty hilarious. Thunder and sun hahaha gotta love it.
Thank you for reading and I’m glad you enjoyed 🙂
Sounds like this has been such a positive change in your life! I look forward to the day I can pick up and start over somewhere new! Congrats on 6 years!
It was a positive change definitely. It’s quite an adventure to up sticks and start again. Thank you so much for that and for reading 🙂
What great advice. Especially the grass being greener elsewhere. I always say, the grass is only greener where you water it. Usually what you think is better than where your at is a lie. We have the power to make where we are at the best it can be
Thank you so much Olivia 🙂 means a lot from you 🙂 I had to learn to make the best with the situations I have been in. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading
Love all the advice 🙂 We always think that somewhere else is better, but it may not be as perfect as it seems x
Thank you for taking the time to read ☺️ I’m so glad you enjoyed.. You are so right.. It doesn’t turn out to be perfect because everywhere has its problems