My life is a novel

Today, I live in another country, newly married to my favorite person, rediscovering my passion in life, and finding our peace. Life was so much different just a little over two years ago...

This isn't a Covid post, but it's only fair to make mention of the thing that's played a slight part in my story abroad. I had only been in America for less than six months when the world turned upside down. Like many others, I imagined my time in the States would be filled with adventures and stories of crazy touristy exploration. Instead, we were confined to our homes, limited to the immediate people we knew for the safety of everyone. I think being a homebody by nature made this process easier. I would be content with what the rest of the year would be like because I didn't really know what else was out there and I had a terrible habit of holding myself back from doing things.

Since a child I had always wanted to see the Big Apple, so living in New York, in a suburb that was a 20-minute train ride away was a dream - I spent all my free weekends walking through the city in the two months I lived there. It was a total change from my life in Durban, South Africa. New York was an experience; I have a lot of wonderful memories there and made friends from all around the world. However, I experienced something that only now when I think about it, played a vital part in my story. It was an ordeal I could have gone without but there are things that happen that are not in your control, that force you to evolve and rely on your faith. This was the moment the story could have all ended and seen me on a plane back home, but I knew that doing so would be the wrong decision.

So, I moved. To a picturesque movie like town just out of Boston - it really is worthy of that term as there's a Netflix series based on the town - I lived with a great family, and through that experience I was able to grow, and unlearn and learn new things. There's a saying "move out of your old town and to somewhere new..." I think it's so true, it's the best way to discover who you are and want to become.

At the end of my time in Massachusetts, I was fully prepared to leave America and say goodbye. I missed my family, my dogs, my best friend. I didn't want to miss more birthdays and time with my grandfather. I was ready to go home and then journey on to the next adventure. Instead, my one-year plan turned into two years.

In my second year, I - with some encouragement - decided to venture out in the social world. Of course, trying to get to know people in a pandemic era was difficult. I had to keep the second family I had safe, and trust that people were honest in their safety habits. And, somehow, I managed.

I fell in love.

It wasn't the plan. I wasn't a casual dater - heck I didn't even know how to go on a date (hello my fellow shy Indian girls!) I spent the first couple months, worried about the heartache I'd face when it was time for me to leave. I felt conflicted because I wanted to go back to my country but also this man was quickly becoming my future. He saw it too, because he proposed. We talked so much about our future life together - and prayed even more.

And so, we married. We had a small wedding, with the closest of people. Unfortunately, my family was not present, but I am blessed to feel like his family are my own. We can't wait to go to South Africa, it will be a happy day when it comes.

So, for now, I venture on my next journey. Creating our home, learning new things, and trying to find my way back to writing again.

In all of this, I sit here and realize how much has changed and how God truly closes one door only to open the next to something greater. If I did not leave South Africa, live in New York, move to Boston, and then go on a date; I never would have met my husband.

So, if ever I feel I am at a standstill, I think of my journey and of these last two years. And I say to myself; trust the process, everything takes time to grow - we just don't see beneath the surface.