New beginnings

Every September feels like a fresh start for me as well as for my kids. We’re all turning over a new leaf, putting summer in the rearview mirror and focusing on the push to learn something before the holidays come.

As with many (most?) new expats here in Ireland, I’m currently in school too, but the classes are to pass my drivers test. It’s humbling to study and sit with an instructor for hours at a time, only to be told you failed on three separate errors in one 30-minute mock test!

One big thing I try to keep in mind when I start to worry about gaps in my resume, or time spent away from home, is that I’m doing all kinds of new and challenging things that showcase my ability adapt and grow. I’ve been driving for over 25 years, but I’m still considered a beginner in a country that drives on the “wrong” side of the road. In China I spent two years taking twice-weekly mandarin lessons to integrate better into Shanghai life. It was incredibly embarrassing to fail over and over in my attempts to talk with the Shanghainese people, but every time I failed, I brushed it off and tried again.

As hard as all these new experiences are, though, I think it’s good for my kids to see me try but fall down; to fail and still get up and try again.

Glennon Doyle famously said in her book Untamed, “we can do hard things.” And I think about her words a lot when I’m struggling with this or that expat frustration. As much as I hate the aggravation in the moment, I’m grateful for the experience when I come out the other side.

Does this feeling resonate with you at all? What have you done after moving to a new home that you’re truly proud of? What struggle has made you a stronger, more confident person? Let me know in the comments!