Reflecting on this time brings me to tears, because despite the ups and downs and all the unknowns, my heart needed Norway, my heart needs Norway, and I have found myself in a way that was exactly what my heart needed.
Above all the wonderful adventures, things that I have seen and done, by far the best part is the friends that I have made and allowed me into their lives, and them into mine. I needed friends, everyone needs friends, but the quality of friends I have encountered and made in Norway is irreplaceable. These two years have been a gift, and I am hoping for another three years (or more!)
There has been much risk with my Norwegian adventure, as goes with most of the adventures in life. I usually don't see it as a risk. Many friends, or peers will tell me that I am brave for moving to a foreign country, to do something different. I see it as a challenge, an adventure. Taking the challenge as a problem that I will solve and conquer. I am trying my best to do it with a smile and positivity.
Often I feel so hard on myself, placing the expectation from me to me that everything has to be perfect, everything has to be done well, and with excellence and integrity, when in fact life is flawed. I am flawed. And that is what makes everything all that more fun! Finding the beauty and harmony in a broken life, in a broken world. That's true beauty and love, seeing (and experiencing) the imperfect and the pain, but still finding joy and love. Now that is an adventure worth living, and a risk worth taking.
I am now sitting at an airport, embarking on yet another adventure, reflecting on these words I wrote two days ago. Learning to trust the unknown, take in peace and rest and believe that the best is yet to come.
