“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” – Rosa Parks
Ten weeks and counting until moving day. [Insert appropriate “time flies” expression here.] Until this point, nothing has really sunk in. Of course I’ve been getting excited, and I’ve had the occasional “holy crap!” moment where I feel as though I’m going to burst with the crazy reality of it all, but this week for the first time, the fear set in. I felt unsettled.
The thing is, I can’t quite pinpoint why. The answer should probably be obvious. I mean, I’ve moved a few times in my life, but never to a different country, let alone across the ocean. For a small-town Saskie girl, it’s kind of a big deal.
When I moved from Saskatoon to Calgary five years ago, I was on my own for a month before my friend joined me in our apartment. I had an air mattress and a computer. It was enough. I was ready to start a new chapter, meet new people, get my first “real” job. I would sit in the coffee shop a couple of blocks away for a few hours in the evenings just to be around people. Finally I got hired as a waitress (the publishing job came along a few weeks later). That job was a godsend, and I’m so grateful to have met some lifelong friends there. Anyway, enough of my stroll down memory lane.
The point is, I’m not afraid of moving alone – that’s half the adventure. I think it’s simply the fear of the unknown that’s tugging at me, the inability to picture what my life is going to look like. And this is the kind of fear that should be overcome at all costs, because it can become debilitating. It’s part of the reason it took me ten years to finally decide to move to London. It disguised itself in many ways.
Today, I acknowledge the fear, and I choose to move past it. Because if I don’t see what’s on the other side, I know I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.
Is fear of the unknown preventing you from taking a leap to something you want? It’s a tricky little devil in disguise.
Namaste 🙂
Rachel
Yup
Freelancing to Freedom 
Go Brave Rachel!
By: windlo on July 14, 2014
at 4:49 am
Thanks Wendy!
By: faultlessfinish on July 14, 2014
at 1:49 pm
I feel a bit late to the party here, because I’m not sure where you are moving to or why. And I know I should have kept up with your Blog better, but you know how it is. That being said, I’ve done this a few times, for various reasons, and sometimes its been amazingly successful, and at other times I have managed to transport myself to a sort of social emotional wilderness, and spent the next period trying to escape from it again. I admire the adventure of you going, enormously, and hope it is a very successful move
By: Peter Wells aka Countingducks on July 14, 2014
at 1:46 pm
Thank you so much, Peter! “Social emotional wilderness” – that’s brilliant. I’m moving to London in September. And not to worry, I wish I could keep up with my blog better too 😉 I’ve been a bit lax on the posting lately.
By: faultlessfinish on July 14, 2014
at 1:49 pm
Just to drift towards the wild side, when you do you can let me know, and we can meet for cover and sharing moving tips and anecdotes, if you like 🙂
By: Peter Wells aka Countingducks on July 14, 2014
at 1:50 pm
That would be fantastic 🙂 I’ll certainly be in touch.
By: faultlessfinish on July 14, 2014
at 1:51 pm
Fear can stop a person from doing so many things. I have always let myself feel fear but then I let it go. I am so proud of you Rachel.
You are a very talented and beautiful woman. I can’t wait to see what you
Accomplish in London. You are listening to your heart and following your dream! You go girl!! Luv Momma T
By: Momma T on July 14, 2014
at 8:01 pm
Aw, thank you so much Momma T, that means the world to me 🙂
By: faultlessfinish on July 15, 2014
at 12:42 am
Hey, no need to worry about London, you know it’s going to happen. What you should be concentrating on though is the going away party, where, when, who is being invited *cough*. 🙂 You’ll do wonderful in London, we all know it.
By: Ivan on July 15, 2014
at 2:24 am
Haha thanks Ivan!
By: faultlessfinish on July 15, 2014
at 1:07 pm
You’ll love it. Any mountain looks bad from below, but when you get to the top, the view is worth it.
Jim
By: redjim99 on July 18, 2014
at 10:40 am
Oh so true, Jim. Thank you! 🙂
By: faultlessfinish on July 18, 2014
at 1:27 pm