A Year of Moving, Unpacking and Rediscovering

Every now and then, life has a way of pressing the pause button, whether we’ve asked it to or not.

I’ve decided to call the past twelve months my Gap Year. It certainly wasn’t the gap year I might have imagined, but looking back, it has been a year of enormous change, both externally and internally.There has been the physical moving: packing up a home, relocating, unpacking boxes and trying to find a place for everything in a new environment. And then there has been the metaphorical moving – sorting through old beliefs, expectations, relationships, priorities and all those things we accumulate over the years without necessarily questioning whether they still belong.In many ways, the unpacking has been just as significant as the packing.

When life comes in threes!

The year has also been marked by a few health challenges. You know the old saying that things come in threes? Well, I’m hoping that particular chapter has now been completed!There have been moments when my body has made it very clear that slowing down wasn’t optional. Plans have changed, commitments have been put aside. I’ve had to become much more conscious of where I direct my energy. It’s interesting how easily we can become caught up in what we think we should be doing, rather than paying attention to what we actually need. Physical health and mental wellbeing are so closely connected, and this year has reinforced just how important it is to look after both.

A personal quest – more than just a move

During the year, I’ve spent quite a bit of time working through the challenges using Art Therapy exercises. Drawing, creating, reflecting and allowing images to express things that sometimes aren’t so easy to put into words has been a valuable part of the process.

I’ve come to see this period as something of a personal quest, rather than simply a year of change and disruption.

I’ve always been interested in the stories we tell ourselves and the journeys we undertake. Joseph Campbell’s work on the Hero’s Journey provides an interesting framework for understanding this experience. There is something quite powerful about recognising that the challenges we encounter can become part of a much bigger journey. We leave what is familiar, encounter obstacles and unexpected detours, question what we thought we knew, and hopefully emerge with a little more wisdom and a different perspective. I’m not suggesting I’ve reached the end of my quest! Far from it. But the process has helped me recognise that even the uncomfortable chapters can have something to teach us.

Making room for what’s next

Alongside all the practical changes, I’ve continued to invest in my own learning and development. My work with Emotional Intelligence has taken another step forward, with an upgraded qualification and a deeper appreciation of the role that emotional awareness, boundaries, personal power and self-understanding play in how we navigate life.

I’ve also found myself exploring the spiritual world more deeply. Not necessarily looking for all the answers, but becoming more curious, more reflective and more open to the lessons that can emerge when we allow ourselves the space to listen. Perhaps that’s one of the gifts of a year that doesn’t go quite to plan. We begin to notice things we might otherwise have rushed straight past.

A different kind of relaunch

As I look towards the coming year, I’m feeling that this gap year has been less about stepping away and more about preparing for a different kind of return. I’m relaunching with a renewed emphasis on health and wellbeing – physical, emotional and mental. I bring with me new learning, an upgraded qualification, a deeper spiritual understanding and, perhaps most importantly, a clearer sense of what matters and where I want to put my energy.

There are still boxes to unpack, both literally and metaphorically. Some things will find a place, some will be passed on, and some are probably best left behind! And there is still work to do. I don’t believe we ever reach a point where we have everything sorted, all the answers or nothing more to learn. We’re all a work in progress, and perhaps that’s what makes the journey so interesting.

I’m not expecting everything to suddenly fall into place on the first day of a new year. Real change takes time, and perhaps that’s another lesson worth carrying forward. For now, I’m embracing the transition, appreciating what I’ve learnt and looking forward to what comes next.

Sometimes we need a gap year to make space for the next chapter. I have a feeling the next chapter could be rather interesting!