He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction.
-Bessie Stanley

Yesterday I was left to think about what my life has become and how I will fulfil the rest of my life. I was overcome by a feeling of guilt. I’m quarter of a century old. Mentally, physically and psychologically, these years should be my best.

I feel that there is more I can do to make a positive impact on the place I live. While I haven’t yet discovered what that may be, I do feel that I’m wasting my time by not participating in the community where I live.

All I can really do is accomplish my tasks well and be proud of the person I am. I don’t know where to start but I will try to live better and laugh (more) often.

One year ago I came off a plane and landed in Sydney. I caught a bus to Canberra and was finally home after nine months of being away.

Perhaps I came back with my tail in between my legs. It had felt like a long time away. I had no job to go to, no savings left and I was tired from the 9 months I had just lived. Nevertheless, my spirits were lifted, I saw my family again, I realised Canberra is the place for me now and I had my fiancee with me.

I didn’t know how soon my fortune would come, I just knew that it would some day. I was looking forward to going back to university. To find work in my field of study, to embark on my career, and to achieve whatever it was I desired.

I came back with a new appreciation of the city I’ve grown up in. I love it’s peacefulness and small size. I like a city centre that I can walk through on the weekends without feeling exhausted. I cherish the clean air I breathe. I love the fact that I can go to the markets and not have to settle for less than average food. Canberra’s a great city, I just hadn’t realised it before. I do concede that the people here are unfriendly compared to other parts of Australia – and the world – but I enjoy the pace of the town. You don’t feel or see the stress that bigger cities have.

I knew that in the following months, my life would improve and things would pan out the way I’ve always wished. It was so good for me to get out of Canberra to see what life is like outside.

Life outside can be tough. I’m glad I’m here. I plan to be here for at least the next ten years – although I’ll stay much longer than that. I was educated here, I grew up here. I sometimes find myself in parks and places that I would go to when I was a child and the memories would come racing back. There are many parts of Canberra that give me nostalgia.

I’m glad I’m working and living here. I plan to contribute to this city for many years to come. Everyone is defensive of the place they’ve grown up. I have no hesitance to defend it each and every time someone starts to complain about there being nothing to do. When you live in other places that don’t offer the same luxuries as Canberra, you can come back realising “what can’t you do here?” Canberra is what you make it, the only task is having to decide your adventure as opposed to it coming to you.

The journey was amazing, I felt like a child on a school excursion. It took a while to get there but every minute of it was interesting. I never imagined there would be so many towns along the way. When I’ve heard that people lived in the Blue Mountains, I always assumed that they would live at the foot of the mountains but never did I expect to see so many houses right at the top!

Without going too much further into it. Here are just a few photos from the trip. Enjoy.

I was in my own paradise for ten minutes as I sat outside with the wind against my face and the distant lights from the city slowly getting closer.

As I heard small waves knock against the boat, I was able to take in the beauty of everything around me.

It reminded me of travelling. I always tell me friends that it’s not the landscapes that make a trip memorable, it’s what you’re feeling at the time and those short moments you experience while doing ordinary every day activities.

Being on that ferry brought back many memories of places I have visited. At that moment I wished I was back there to retrace my steps as an older person.

That’s when I realised that when you travel you leave pieces of your heart at every place you visit. As time goes on, those pieces of your heart call to you, asking you to come back. And I believe it’s not enough to visit a place just once.