With my love of reading blogs, and following others on their journeys through life and travel, I discovered Dorothy from Singular Insanity. Was also very lucky to met Dorothy in Melbourne at the Digital Conference a little while ago!
Today I am proud to be sharing her guest blog post New Beginnings ::
Looking back on my 44 years, I realise that I am the Queen of New Beginnings.
There have been many significant changes in my life – from immigrating to Australia from Poland, through changing schools, becoming a parent, to renewing myself yet again as a sole parent.
Most recently I left behind the metropolitan sprawl of outer Melbourne to live in the hills near a large country town. Although the locals call the town “the City”, life here is slower, gentler and definitely more scenic. Every time I drop my boys off at school, I walk out to a view of tree-covered hills. This beats the desert of cement roofs and power poles that I lived among for many, many years.
Tree Change ~
Love these trees…Melbourne has the most amazing scenery!
So, I must love change? Right?
Truthfully, I have a love/hate relationship with change. On the one hand I dislike it immensely. I don’t like my routine disrupted, my environment changed, people living my life. It always takes me a long time to feel settled in my new situation.
On the other hand, I get bored easily. I like adventures. I seek out new experiences, including places to visit.
Needing Travel for New Beginnings
I travelled a fair bit before I had children and these days I make sure we have at least one major family holiday each year. As alluring as sitting by the pool all day may be, I get bored. And my children get bored. So we go places and do things. We cruise on the Daintree River spotting crocodiles, visit Eumundi markets and go whale watching. Our holidays are experiences to be remembered.
Dorothy Boys on a big adventure! ~
Now that looks amazing!
I feel the same about life. Whenever I’m in the same place too long, literally and metaphorically, I get itchy feet. I need something new.
This would account for my multiple craft interests – projects started, some finished, some not. A few things I keep up with, most I don’t.
I got bored very quickly in the series of jobs I had in my career in the Victorian Public Service, but the need for safety and security kept me there, kept me from taking risks. My mixed relationship with change kept me from following my dreams.
Some changes have not been by choice. Moving to Australia with my parents was traumatic, yet totally worth it in the greater scheme of things. Moving house three times in the last three years, were my choices, but motivated by circumstances beyond my control. Returning to full-time work after becoming a sole parent, was a choice necessitated by financial circumstances, as was selling the family home.
Becoming a sole parent was tough. But after discovering some truths about my children’s father, I felt I had no choice but to remove ourselves from him.
Then something changed. Being in a job I hated, living in a house I hated, having a life at odds with the one I’ve always imagined, pushed me out of the comfort zone.
I quit my job, I sold our then home and after one false start, finally moved to the country and started working towards financial security through self-employment.
How do I do it? I make a plan and I carry it out. I deal with each new challenge as it arises. There really is no other option. The only way is forward
About Singular Insanity ::
Dorothy has been blogging for over four years at Singular Insanity. She blogs to keep herself sane, more or less, writing about sole parenting, mental health and blogging. A sole parent of two boys, Dorothy is also a freelance writer, thinker and chronic furniture re-arranger.
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Thanking you so much Dororthy for your guest blog post! It was great to read and share your journey of New Beginnings!
Do You Also Get Itchy Feet?
I so can relate to what Dorothy said about wanting to move around and getting bored easily!
Cheers
Lisa
Dorothy, I admire your courage and the beautiful stage of life you have brought yourself to by following your sense of what’s right. It is brave, has integrity and is very inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story.
Cheryl from BusinessChic recently posted..Comment on What expecting women can wear to work in Spring/Summer by busichic
Thanks, Cheryl. We live each day as it comes, trying not to dwell on the past too much and always hoping for a better tomorrow. Cliched, I know, but it seems to keep me going. Thank you for your kind comments 🙂
Dorothy @ Singular Insanity recently posted..Things I Know – the late edition
You have had an interesting life Dorothy.
‘a view of tree-covered hills. This beats the desert of cement roofs and power poles’ …every single day
You are an inspiration to me doing so much as a sole parent.
Trish recently posted..Wordless Wednesday ~ 12 months ago
It certainly has been an interesting life, Trish and I don’t doubt that it will continue to be so. I do welcome new experiences, even if I don’t always enjoy the changes they bring at the time. Life would be too boring for me, if I just stood still and not tried to make things more enjoyable.
Thank you 🙂
Dorothy @ Singular Insanity recently posted..Things I Know – the late edition
Terrific post! What a great share of who, in part, you are! And the pictures are great, I really like the one of the boys walking.
Rosey recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Congrats C&E!
I love that shot, too.. The boys are getting a bit sick of me constantly taking photos of them, but putting up with their complaining and standing back sometimes results in some great pics.
Dorothy @ Singular Insanity recently posted..Things I Know – the late edition
Hi Dorothy,
I read one of your back posts. What you went through would be like a nightmare, except it was real.
Your strength of purpose has got you where you are today. I hope you are very proud of yourself.
I am glad you and your children have found a lovely place to live.
Jan
jan recently posted..Manning up in Nha Trang traffic
Hi Jan, I liken my life to a soap opera, except that it’s real. Sometimes I wonder if people think I’ve made it all up, but believe me, it is all true. Who would have thought that stuff like this happens to “normal” everyday people?
Thank you for your kind comments 🙂
Dorothy @ Singular Insanity recently posted..Things I Know – the late edition