32 Going on 13…
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Terri Wingham is the founder and CEO of A Fresh Chapter, a cancer survivor, and someone who believes that we are not defined by the most difficult aspects of our story. |
Do you remember the night before your first day of high school? Maybe you debated for hours about what you should wear and then feigned nonchalance when your older brother stopped by your room and caught you checking out your new outfit in the mirror (which happened to be right next to the taped up poster of your imaginary boyfriend Donnie from New Kids On The Block).
Did you roll your eyes as you told him to butt out and leave you alone because you were TOTALLY cool with going to high school? Did you then lie awake as you secretly obsessed about how you would find your homeroom class and whether you would make any new friends?
Although I no longer have a crush on Donnie Wahlberg (or any other boy band members for that matter), I can’t help but relate to the 13 year old inside of me as I try to fall asleep tonight and think about what lies ahead.
My time in London has provided ample distraction from my nerves. From bouncing along the tube’s squealing Circle Line, to dodging large crowds of school age kids wearing obnoxiously tall top-hats printed with the British Flag, to eating the most succulent Chicken Tikka Masala of my life, I have found plenty of reasons why I could stay a lot longer in this dynamic city. But, my time is up. Now that I have adjusted to waking up when most of you are falling asleep, I am ready to dive into my 13-year-old fears of the future and get on with the adventure.
I hope you’ll come with me…At 7:10pm tomorrow (which is 11:10am for all of you back home in B.C.), I board my flight to South Africa. When you wake up on Saturday morning, I will be on my third continent in less than a week (take that Christopher Columbus).
So buckle up…the journey is finally about to begin…
Comments (7)
I’m excited to follow your journey! I’m also glad to learn that your boyfriend was Donnie and that my clearly superior boyfriend JOEY wasn’t cheating on me. Safe travels!
Haha – laughing out loud. I think that my boyfriend might have aged a little better than yours, but the jury is out 😉 Can’t wait to follow your upcoming journey as well. I am loving the look of your site!
Oh I am so glad we get to share the journey with you Terri. As I write this, it is 9.30 am and you are (all going according to plan) up in the air. I am thinking of you xxx
I just recently discovered your blog. Yesterday, I read it like a book I just couldn’t put down, from start to finish. Your honesty and writing style is brilliant.
As your journey and life adventure continues, I look forward to reading your observations and stories.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with the world. I think it is a better place for it!
Shelley,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog and for making a comment. I am sitting at the Johannesburg airport waiting out a lengthy layover, so your comment was a welcome breath of fresh air. I am so happy to have you along for the journey!
This reminds me so much of my departure from Scotland to Nepal in 2000. (Oh, except for the boy band part;)) I had been offered a 3 year contract in Nepal, and was about to leave for new everything – new country, new job, new role, new organisation….. new life. And I had only been to Asia once before, and never to South Asia. Looking back it seems like a huge risk, but it was the threshold of a wonderful adventure. (And lots of hard work and challenge, of course). I remember the feelings that you describe – the uncertainty, and the fear that I was not doing the right thing!
Fast forward 11 years – I loved my work, I loved Nepal and I have been living in Asia ever since! Of course the breast cancer experience was not in the big plan, and it could still be the thing that means a permanent or long term return to the UK is necessary at some point. But regrets? Not at all! I have had an amazing time and feel incredibly privileged.
I am sure you will treasure this and I am following your steps.
P x
Philippa,
Thank you so much for your continued support. I am so happy to connect with other people out there who are living their dreams. One day, I hope we have the chance to meet in person to trade our stories. Every day in Africa makes me feel more and more lucky that I have had the chance to experience this amazing country and the warmth of its dynamic people. I am treasuring every day!
T. x