Starting Over: The Beautiful Chaos of Moving, Healing, and Building Anew

A few years ago, if someone had told me I’d uproot my life, move countries, change careers, survive a health scare, and start a small business, all in one whirlwind chapter I would have laughed nervously and politely asked them to stop tempting fate.

But here I am.

Life has a curious way of unravelling in ways we never quite expect. The decision to move countries wasn’t taken lightly. It was fuelled by a mixture of hope, exhaustion, and the overwhelming need for something different, something more aligned with who I was becoming. Leaving behind familiarity, comfort, and community was terrifying. But I knew that growth rarely blooms in comfort zones.

Settling into a new country was both exhilarating and deeply unsettling. Every small task, from driving on the wrong side of the road to finding a decent cup of coffee came with its own learning curve. There were days I felt like a wide-eyed tourist in my own life. And yet, beneath the discomfort, I was quietly building a new rhythm. One trip to the local woolies at a time.

In the midst of navigating this new life, I found myself grappling with health issues that forced everything to a halt. I faced long, anxious waits in sterile rooms, unfamiliar diagnoses, and a deep fear that everything I was building might collapse before it had even begun. But there’s something about facing your own fragility that teaches you how to fight, gently, but fiercely. It taught me to listen to my body, prioritise rest, and stop viewing slowing down as failure.

Through it all, my partner was my anchor. While I wobbled between hope and fear, he remained steady. He held space for my emotions, picked up the pieces when I couldn’t, and reminded me gently but consistently that I was capable, even on the days I couldn’t see it. Having someone in your corner who believes in your vision even before it fully takes shape is something I will never take for granted. His support was the scaffolding that held me up while I rebuilt.

During recovery, I started reflecting on what truly brought me joy. That clarity led me to a new career path, one I hadn’t planned but had always quietly dreamed of. And that spark became the foundation for my small business. Launching a business from scratch, in a new country, after everything I’d been through, was nothing short of terrifying. But it was also liberating.

I’ve poured heart, healing, and hard-earned wisdom into this venture. It’s still evolving, as am I. But there’s something deeply rewarding about creating something that feels like an extension of your soul. Every order, every message of support, every challenge overcome reminds me that starting over doesn’t mean starting from nothing. It means starting from experience. And love. And unwavering belief from the one who stood beside me through every twist.

So if you’re in the thick of change, moving, healing, reimagining your life, please know this: you are not alone. The chaos doesn’t last forever. In time, the puzzle pieces start to find their place. And you just might look up one day and realise that in the midst of all the uncertainty, you were quietly building something beautiful, hand in hand with someone who never let you fall.

Here’s to the messy, magical business of beginning again, and to the people who hold us steady through the storm.