The uncertainty we experience when deciding which path to take can be quite overwhelming.
My husband and I are stepping into unknown territory and uncertain about the future. Since last June, our attempts to travel to New Zealand have felt like a long and challenging journey on a difficult path. It has tested my resilience on every level, but through this experience, I have discovered more about myself, and in some ways, it has had a positive outcome.
We both decided to focus our energy on things that matter and that we can control. Initially, we wanted to make things happen, but if the authorities, the COVID situation, and legal requirements in another country don’t align with our plans, then what can we do besides wait?
So, despite the stressful experience, we still achieved positive outcomes.
Navigating unfamiliar territory is a common experience for many of us. Whether it’s relocating to a new city or state, starting a new job, getting married or divorced, establishing an online presence like a blog, or immersing ourselves in new social situations, it can be draining and anxiety-inducing.
Yet, in the end, we often find ourselves questioning, “Was it all worth it?”
I frequently think about the difficulties we faced: selling our house and belongings, waiting for the borders to open, organizing documentation for our dogs, understanding the entry requirements for the new country, and dealing with the extra expenses involved in moving our pets.
I can’t help but wonder if it was all worth it.
Since June, we haven’t been able to do much because we were uncertain about our departure date. This made pursuing job opportunities or committing to projects impossible. The wait has been frustrating. Additionally, transitioning from a large, bright home to a small, dark apartment has added to our distress.
The light at the end of the tunnel was extinguished. It felt like traveling without a destination, without knowing where, when, or how you’re going.
“Don’t wait for a light to appear at the end of the tunnel; stride down there and light the bloody thing yourself.”
― Sara Henderson
Naturally, we tend to have negative reactions when faced with uncertainty, which is usually unhelpful and can hinder us from doing the work and living the life we want. I’m trying to be realistic. Waiting seven months to move somewhere is a long time. What would happen if New Zealand didn’t open its borders for people like us, non-citizens? Then maybe we would have to consider going somewhere else.
Our family moves frequently and goes overseas often. However, post-corona, New Zealand, is the most frustrating and expensive move abroad we have experienced.
The first mindset to consider is that uncertainty is not a bad thing or something to be avoided. In fact, feeling uncertain is a great sign that you’re doing something challenging and meaningful. We will have the opportunity to travel to the other side of the world, live abroad, and mingle with the Kiwis (New Zealanders’ nickname since WWI) and the indigenous Māori of New Zealand.
I think it’s pretty exciting.
I had a moment when I thought we weren’t going to New Zealand anymore. The information on the New Zealand travelers’ website was unclear and caused a lot of doubts. We were overwhelmed with conflicting information from the immigration website and the embassy.
Coordinating our trip and the pet’s trip was complicated from the start. Since we didn’t know our travel dates, it was difficult to schedule the vet appointment. The appointment needed to be within a certain timeframe before the flight, so it was impossible to schedule it without knowing our travel dates.
The process is really tedious. We have to meet specific requirements, and on top of that, the price we have to pay is quite high. It feels like we’re paying through the nose! That’s why I’ve decided to hire a pet transportation service to handle all the necessary requirements, schedule the quarantine stays, and take care of everything else that needs to be done.
Some acquaintances asked, “Why don’t you guys leave our dogs here with someone else?” I don’t know anyone else to keep my dogs, but I don’t want to leave them behind. They are my pets, my companions, my family. They are definitely coming with us.
Finally, we received some good news this week! New Zealand has lifted most of the COVID restrictions, allowing us to travel. We felt a tremendous sense of relief. Now, we need to coordinate our trip with our pets. My husband had to leave quickly because his employer required his presence there as soon as possible.
The pet’s due date is in April, and I’ll only say “Goodbye, Austin” then. So, we still have a month to go. In the meantime, we had to move to another apartment. We have chosen a furnished apartment to make it easier to pack and leave.
Our journeys are bound to have uncertainty and surprises. It would be boring if everything were predictable. We are figuring things out as we move forward, learning along the way, and if we approach it with awareness, we can embrace the uncertainty with a smile.
“The quality of your life is directly related to how much uncertainty you can comfortably handle.”
~ Tony Robbins
