A big international move is stressful business. Even more so, perhaps, when the move is followed immediately by an intense period of...nothing. That's where I/we've been since my arrival in Australia on February 2. I have a great new job lined up in a city we can't wait to live in, but, seeing as how I'm Canadian, I need that magical little visa in order to start. And, as I'm sure you can imagine, these visa things take time. Lots of time. So, after a great stretch of travel followed by catching up with the family in Canada, we've now ground to a complete halt whilst we await the next step of the paperwork mountain known as the visa process.
Now, in some ways this downtime could be seen as a dream. We have the time and space to exercise, write, read, explore new hobbies, see family...but here's the truth I've come to realise: when faced with the kind of time to just "be" that I had so longed for during the rough patches at work, I have swung from one extreme to the other. My "normal" state is somewhat manic - I thrive in situations where there is a lot going on and I'm forced to balance competing priorities. Left to my own devices, however, with no expectations or responsibilities...I'm pretty lazy. I don't have the drive/desire to go out and do the things I always thought I would if I had more time. I'm content to sit on the couch and watch the type of shit TV I always made fun of while living in North America. (i.e. Dr. Phil, The View, and Judge Judy. See - I told you it was shit.) Go figure.
At different stages in the last few months I've justified my behaviour (and/or, had others justify it to me). At first I was simply unwinding after five months of travelling the world. Then I was indulging in the laziness of the holidays with my family. Then I was just basking in the happiness of being reunited with my partner after several months apart. Then I was hiding from the heat (hello! +40C?! No thanks!). But now, faced with what could reasonably be another two months of unemployment as we await the processing of my work visa, enough is enough. Realistically, there are a lot of things I would like to be doing but can't because of the visa thing. These include moving to our new city and setting up our home (which we've yet to see); arranging for my life (in boxes) to be shipped here from Canada; unpacking the suitcases which made the initial trek here with me; and purchasing the items we need to live once we've vacated my mother-in-law's home. But here's the reality - there are elements of these things I CAN do right now, I just haven't forced myself to get up and do them. So, now that I've copped to this slovenly behaviour, I know what I have to do. I'm going to start doing the work. Right now.
Now, in some ways this downtime could be seen as a dream. We have the time and space to exercise, write, read, explore new hobbies, see family...but here's the truth I've come to realise: when faced with the kind of time to just "be" that I had so longed for during the rough patches at work, I have swung from one extreme to the other. My "normal" state is somewhat manic - I thrive in situations where there is a lot going on and I'm forced to balance competing priorities. Left to my own devices, however, with no expectations or responsibilities...I'm pretty lazy. I don't have the drive/desire to go out and do the things I always thought I would if I had more time. I'm content to sit on the couch and watch the type of shit TV I always made fun of while living in North America. (i.e. Dr. Phil, The View, and Judge Judy. See - I told you it was shit.) Go figure.
At different stages in the last few months I've justified my behaviour (and/or, had others justify it to me). At first I was simply unwinding after five months of travelling the world. Then I was indulging in the laziness of the holidays with my family. Then I was just basking in the happiness of being reunited with my partner after several months apart. Then I was hiding from the heat (hello! +40C?! No thanks!). But now, faced with what could reasonably be another two months of unemployment as we await the processing of my work visa, enough is enough. Realistically, there are a lot of things I would like to be doing but can't because of the visa thing. These include moving to our new city and setting up our home (which we've yet to see); arranging for my life (in boxes) to be shipped here from Canada; unpacking the suitcases which made the initial trek here with me; and purchasing the items we need to live once we've vacated my mother-in-law's home. But here's the reality - there are elements of these things I CAN do right now, I just haven't forced myself to get up and do them. So, now that I've copped to this slovenly behaviour, I know what I have to do. I'm going to start doing the work. Right now.
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