Not or, it’s and

‘Fill up your heart’ – perhaps bad grammar, but a great sentiment. I recall texting it to my sister and her friend when we all needed some extra love and strength. They chuckled.

Recently I have gone through a big life change – relocating the family 2hrs. Buying a house, selling a house, changing jobs, moving two kids plus hubby, three goldfish and far too many books (they are so heavy!)

Assessing the move prior to deciding was often a comparison sheet.

• Here or there?
• Now or later?
• This or that?

At times I felt worried and confused and it all felt so final. I felt that I had to justify the change, and by doing so I was comparing the places…here versus there.

Coming out the other side now I can tell you that I shouldn’t have been thinking ‘or’, I should’ve been thinking ‘and’. I didn’t lose anything, I didn’t trade, I didn’t sacrifice, I just added.

I am the happiest I have been for absolutely bloody ages. I filled up my heart.

In moving we got so much more than we expected. I’m absorbing new ‘ands’ everyday.

• hearing harbour ships honking from inside my house
• seeing horses galloping just two blocks away
• smelling the ocean when I open the back door
• discovering bore water
• shops closing for the afternoon on Saturdays
• having Wazza and Waketts over a few times
• hearing different birdsong
• some cracking regional ads
• having a favourite car park
• adjusting to the new track of the sun
• feeling proud when my daughter said she was learning the street names
• feeling proud when my son used trees as landmarks, saying that seeing these trees meant we were near the beach

Don’t be scared of change peeps. It’s not or, it’s and. Fill up your heart.

Love Stripes and Trees xxx