“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough”.
Mae West

The countdown is really on… 10 days to go…

I was saying to Rob that although we have been planning and saving for this trip since we have been married, the planning for this trip started 13 years ago.

13 years ago.

I had no kids. I was married to someone else. I had just moved to Toronto. I had only been working as a Speech Pathologist for 1 year – and I worked in a hospital. I lived in a condo. My Dad was alive.

I wanted to go on a big trip. I knew kids were on the horizon, and I desperately wanted to go to Australia.

But then my friend at work was talking about how amazing South East Asia was.

Where to go? Where to go?

South East Asia fascinated me, but I thought it might be a little more challenging with kids. Australia would be easier to do with kids, I reasoned. Plus my ex husband was not so into Australia (“It’s just like Canada”), so South East Asia it was.

“I will go to Australia one day. With kids”, was my promise to myself.

Well there were a few dark years where Australia was the furthest thing from my mind.

But, it was always there. Way back there. Tucked away on my list.

And here we are.

Surreal.

10 days and I am leaving on the trip I promised I would take 13 years ago.

Married to a different man – an incredible, amazing, out of this world man. Two unbelievable, incredible, beautiful boys, and three out of this world, amazing, gorgeous  step children.

All to come along on this adventure from my dreams.

Except now I hope it’s a part of their dreams too (and it should be since we have added on Fiji and New Zealand  – I didn’t anticipate that part,  but was happy to oblige the rest of them!)

We do only live once. But once IS enough. If you are with the right people, and are following your dreams, and stopping to smell the roses and to say a prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving all the time …and when you feel like you are in that dark place, light is there. You just need to turn your light on and get back to living your dreams.

10 days….