“We have such a huge capacity for happiness, and I’ve learned to keep some of that just for me. Most of all, I’ve been making a conscious decision about who takes up space in my life, just as much as I take space in theirs. That comes from a place of great love because they will have the best of me, not just the rest of me. ”

The last two days have been surreal - like a switch just flipped and nothing’s really been the same. I’ve learned that life may not always work out the way you want it to, but it can give you magical moments if you let it. Like the way the threat of rain clouds disappeared, while the moon made its way above the stage just as Ed Sheeran began to strum the chords to ‘Thinking Out Loud’. I wasn’t even supposed to be there - but it was one of those take it or leave it moments that the Universe offered up on a plate. Game on Universe, game on.

You see, normally I’m at the gym on Saturday mornings, but two weeks ago, I was tired and decided my body needed a sleep in. I was scrolling through my newsfeed when a friend from high school posted that she had a spare ticket to the Monday night Ed Sheeran show in Auckland. A sold out concert at that.

Although we had known of each other in high school, I didn’t know Sheri-Anne that well. We worked out that we probably hadn’t had a proper conversation since high school - that was 18 years ago! Sure, we followed each other’s lives on Facebook, but we didn’t know each other that well. A lot can happen in 18 years! It was a gamble, but five minutes later, I had a ticket and accomodation.

The show was incredible, it really was. The train ride home however, was like trying to herd sheep through a really narrow gate before they can get to the next paddock. We got home about midnight, so like a typical night out in Whakatane then?

“I finally feel ready to be gone, for awhile at least. ”

It’s almost the end of March, so, where to from here? Well, I can almost count the number months before I leave for Peru in one hand...almost. I’ve travelled solo before, but this will be the longest I’ll be away from New Zealand. I finally feel ready to be gone, for awhile at least. Even though I’m excited for my next adventure, I have to remind myself that I’m still ‘here’. Not to throw away these last few months, because there are some things I’m still working through.

How is this for a coincidence...I bought a photograph in Melbourne last year - it captured one of the many alleys full of street art. I loved it because it had the painting of a man carrying a tree and the building is at least five stories high. What I didn’t notice is the name of the cafe in the photo...it was called Pisco. Do you know where Pisco is? That’s right, Peru. Game on Universe, game on.

We have such a huge capacity for happiness, and I’ve learned to keep some of that just for me. Most of all, I’ve been making a conscious decision about who takes up space in my life, just as much as I take space in theirs. That comes from a place of great love because they will have the best of me, not just the rest of me. Love is the tool that reminds us of who we are...so who am I, you ask? I haven’t been able to put it into words just yet, but it feels good to me, and that’s a good enough place to start.

Love Is The Tool To Remind Us Of Who We Are is an extract from my second book to be released circa 2019, and the sequel to STUCK - Friends, Lovers & The Obscurity of In Between (May 2017).