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12 lessons learned from my first year in a new city

December 1, 2015

As the year draws to a close, keep a little gratitude in your back pocket for how far you’ve come on the journey:

Musings from me on change and embarking on life in a new city.

Always keep your winter essentials in the wardrobe – all year-long – especially if you move to Melbourne. You will soon know why Crowded House wrote Four seasons in one day about the extremes of this city. 
Don’t settle for bad coffee, ever. Or chai if that’s your poison.
You are never really alone. Your tribe, your kin, is everywhere.

Side note: I wrote about surrounding yourself with goddesses over here, this approach will change your life.

Attempt Bollywood dancing at least once in your life.

No joke. True story, that happened only a couple of weekends ago. No alcohol involved (more on that here), just a bunch of women shaking it like their mama.

You can never have too many cafes selling Acai bowls, almond lattes or superfood smoothies. Or yoga studios for that matter.

On the topic of yoga studios, I have a few Melbourne options if you are looking for inspiration.

This is a big one for me – cut your commute if you can. Sub conscious stress is a killer. Drive up your bliss meter. 

Part of what I like to call ‘subtraction’ and building in the bliss.

The more you spend time away from it, the more you appreciate it when you see it again – that is the ocean for me.
It’s all temporary.

When you make a big change, allow yourself time to just be – I wrote this little post in the first month of moving to Melbourne in 2014.

Moving. The more you do it, the easier it gets. When you move, don’t collect more junk, that way you’ll be freer to create more adventures.
Wish for more of the good you do have in your life. Don’t wish for what you don’t have.
Ensure you know where these three things are in your city – your closest park, where to get the freshest and cheapest selection of Organic fruit and vegetables, and a bookstore to get lost in. 

There are many options, these are my three favourite things. At the end of the day find those places that help ground you in a new city. Seek them out when on a weekly basis.

And lastly, spend time people watching. Know what makes your city beautiful – the eclectic mix of cultures, the names of the dogs in the dog park, walk the side streets, take public transport, look people in the eyes when they serve you. We are all humans with the same right to be loved.