Life Update: Victoria, BC | Was It Worth Moving Away?

September 23, 2020 by Emme

Welcome to fall! Can you believe it? 2020 has just been the weirdest, whirlwind of a year.

I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting recently (as tends to happen this time of year) and I’ve come to realise with all it’s ups and downs, twists and turns, it’s actually been a fairly balanced year. That’s not to say it hasn’t been challenging, and painfully difficult at times; but it’s also been incredibly life-changing in such a wonderful way. And I’m grateful everyday for that fact.

I know this year has been hard on us all, harder on some, easier on others. But, this year has given us the opportunity to show and witness some incredible acts of kindness and remarkable resilience. We’ve seen people change, ourselves included, right in front of our very eyes. Births, deaths, marriages, riots, revolutions, realizations. 2020 has shown us the entire colourwheel of the human consciousness, in all it’s beauty and disgrace.

In regards to Covid cases, here on the island we’ve been incredibly lucky. I’ll put that down to the communities here and the trust they hold in their provincial government. British Columbia is a very different place to Ontario, and I can honestly say there’s nowhere else I’d rather be during this pandemic.

It’s funny, I recently re-read the post I wrote at the start of this year when I got back from Australia. In the early days of the Coronavirus, before it had a name, I was sat on a plane heading for the opposite side of the planet. I wonder if I’d have known that would be the last big trip I’d do in a while, would I have done anything different? Would it have felt any different? The latter, I think so. It’s interesting how different we treat things when we take them for granted; the freedom of travel, of seeing the world. I’d have held onto every minute even more if I knew then what I know now.

I think that’s the biggest lesson this year has taught us though, isn’t it? Among the love and compassion, the helping hand and support we’ve given our neighbours — it’s the notion that nothing is promised, and everything can change in a single moment. One week you’re on a plane to the otherside of the world, the next, you can’t even leave your house.

It might be the pandemic, it might be the beautiful British Columbian nature, or it might just be living on this wonderful little island, but for whatever reason I’ve been waking up everyday full of gratitude just for being alive. As someone riddled with anxiety on the best days, it’s a sensation I’ve never felt before, but I’m glad of it. I’m happy this year came, I’m happy for what it’s taught us, and for all the pain it’s brought, I’m making sure 2020 is a year that I remember for good reasons. Happiness is a choice we make everyday, and I hope you’ll join me in choosing it.

♥ Emily