An Open Mind

Living in a foreign country has taught me so many things, but I think the biggest lesson so far is how much we can achieve if only we keep our minds open to possibilities.  Of course, an open mind needs some kind of action for change to happen, but action is often just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other.  With an open mind, you really can achieve some amazing things and often the best are the ones we don’t see coming. I never expected to be living in Berlin, communicating with people in German (however badly), teaching an international class of school children and living in an old-fashioned apartment with wooden floorboards and high ceilings. It all feels like a dream sometimes.  A very good one.  If I hadn’t opened my mind to these ideas, I would never be living this dream in the first place.  It’s not always easy, but the rewards far outweigh the difficulties.

I always need to remind myself of these possibilities when there are changes ahead. The fear of the unknown always strikes.  It is easy to be afraid of what we don’t know. But there are so many potential adventures on the horizon and so it is time to open my mind once again to the possibilities life has in store and embrace them.  Let’s see what’s around the corner…if my recent fortune cookie is anything to go by, things are looking pretty good!  Stay tuned for more updates.

What have you learnt from living in a foreign country? How do you embrace change? What possibilities have opened up to you during your travels?  I would love to hear your stories!