Happy New Year!

Last updated on 5 May 2016

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I feel like this has been a weird year. When it was Thanksgiving, my friends got together a large group of us to share a meal (he’s half American, in case you’re wondering), and it was a wonderful evening. Between courses we shared together 2 things that we were thankful for, one hard thing from the year, and one great thing. While, when it came to being my turn, I stumbled my way through my answer and held back some tears (seriously, Anjali, keep it together!) it wasn’t what I had really planned on saying. If you were there at that dinner, here’s what I should have said.

Something that was really hard this year was coming home. When I was in England I knew exactly where I was from, and I always said I missed New Zealand. And I did, I really did, but I guess just not as much as I thought I had, or I thought I should have. Leaving England after only 2 short years had to be done. It had to be; my VISA was expiring, and my job was a bit up in the air, and it was just the right time…but I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want to leave, and nearly everyday that I’ve been back I’ve thought of England, or travel, or London, or my friends I left there. And it’s been hard. But then I look at this incredible country that I call home – and while my heart is in about a million different places around the globe, it will always be home – I know that I am blessed to be here. I am grateful, and thankful, that this is the place I grew up in, and I know that even though I might prefer to be walking along the Thames, or trying to pronounce the words on the signs in Wales, or exploring ancient castles where TV episodes have been filmed, or jumping on a plane and heading to a place I’ve never been before, I know that right now this is where I’m supposed to be. Those other places will always be there, but right now, New Zealand is where I am. And I am thankful.

So yes, this year wasn’t like last year. I didn’t jump on planes and fly to foreign places every month, I didn’t climb castle towers, or battle the Underground. But I did make some incredible friends, met up with old ones, had some great opportunities, and saw some amazing things. My best friend moved up from our home town to Auckland, Jessie from Nailed It NZ (whom I’ve known since I was 8) is moving up with her husband next month, I have things planned for the blog and for work, and throughout the year I know I will meet more amazing people, and have more amazing times. I have a good feeling about 2015. 2014 was a bit unsettling, a bit rough around the edges, but 2015…you’d better watch out, because here I come.