The Art of Staying

My twin boys just turned 14 years.  We are in the midst of puberty oeps I mean they are.  A confusing period for them and also for the parents. It is a threshold for them, they are on their way of becoming man. It is a transition phase for all of us.  My kids have travelled the world with us.
They have lived, since they were born,  in 4 countries, that means 3 to 4 years in one country and then moving to the next.  We are now 3 years back in Belgium, for them a new country to explore. For us, the parents,  a country filled with our own childhood memories.
As a family we were very used to a mobile life style and we were getting pretty good at it. This 3 to 4 year rhythm of change is still somehow in me. I feel the urge again for a big move, however we are staying.  Now we have a new challenge and that is learning how to stay! 

---

Learning how to stay

1. Learn NOT to choose: 
Did being abroad make you feel alive, adventurous, and empowered?
Did you discover new aspects of ourselves that you really liked? 
Once back home, however, do you feel like you have to choose between being the person you became while living abroad or go back to being the person you were before you left? 
You probably don’t want to choose. So don't!

2. Learn to accept: 
You may never feel satisfied at home again. On the flip-side, you're likely  to feel at home anywhere in the world. 

Watch this TEDtalk by Pico Iyer 
Realize that the concept of home is a work in progress. 

3. Learn to unwrap 
Re-entry is a gift. But it doesn’t unwrap itself. 
Re-entry is about transition. It’s subtle, internal, and deeply personal. It’s about unwrapping and embracing who you truly are, what’s important to you, and the impact you want to make on your world. It’s about articulating what you’ve learned while living abroad and how you’ve grown and changed by this.

And then take action and craft a plan to live a life that’s truly inline with who you are. It’s about becoming a global citizen in action, not just in name.

4. Learn to ask for help 
If you want to make the most out of your re-entry, take steps, contact a coach to help you relaunch yourself! 
I am here for you.

With love, 
Sarah