# I Did the Thing. Turns Out, It's Not My Thing. ##### Five lessons from New York about facing my fears, trusting myself and learning that just because I can doesn't mean I have to  --- I’m back. Back from New York. Back home. Back to myself. And honestly? I’m still processing the whole experience. People keep asking, “Did you enjoy it?” and my answer is simple – *It was an experience.* Take from that what you will. The truth is – cities aren’t my thing. I’m all about wide-open spaces, country air, and the comfort of home. People aren’t my thing either. I’m an introvert who loves being alone, preferably all day. Sleep is non-negotiable, so travelling across time zones? Probably not my best move. And yet – I don’t regret it. Not one bit. --- ## Because this trip was never about New York itself. It was about proving something to myself. About proving that I could do it. That I could plan, show up, and experience something wildly outside my comfort zone. After lockdown, even the simplest things were hard for me. - Leaving the house felt impossible. - Taking my boys to swimming lessons was a massive ordeal. - Supermarket trips resulted in a number of panic attacks (I mean *literal* panic attacks). But here I am, post-New York, knowing I nailed it. So here are five lessons I’ve learned. Not just about this trip, but about myself and what’s possible when we lean into our challenges. --- ### 1. I’m stronger and more resilient than I realise As I mentioned, there was a time when leaving the house was a full-body workout for my nervous system. But I managed to plan a trip across the world, face the noise, the chaos, the time zones, and my own doubts. *And I did it.* Resilience isn’t about being unshakable. It’s about showing up - even when we’re shaking. --- ### 2. Progressive planning is a superpower Let me introduce you to (one of) my new favourite phrase(s): *progressive planning.* (I’ll introduce others soon). This trip wasn’t planned in one frantic burst. I gave myself time. A lot of it. I’d plan a bit. Then step away. Return to it later. Add more And repeat. I didn’t force myself into rigid timelines (apart from the obvious, like booking flights!). Instead, I let the momentum build naturally. Because the truth is, there were times I did not want to look at the thing. But when I gave myself permission to just sort one teeny tiny bit, I usually ended up doing so much more. \#notetoself: You don’t have to tackle everything in one go. --- ### 3. Future me has my back When a worry popped up, I told myself, *Future Me will handle it.* This gem of wisdom came from Lizzie Goddard, who teaches that future you is better equipped to deal with things than you are in the moment. And she’s right. When I felt overwhelmed, I’d say, *That’s a tomorrow problem,* and let it go. Future Me could (and did!) figure it out when the time came. --- ### 4. Just because I don’t, doesn’t mean I can’t I used to tell myself that I didn’t go to cities because I couldn’t. Too noisy. Too busy. Too much of *everything*. But this trip flipped that belief on its head. Turns out – I’m entirely capable. Yes, I wore my earplugs the *whole* time, but I *did it.* And now I know I can (probably) do anything I set my mind to. Although here’s the thing – just because I can doesn’t mean I have to. *(I’ve spoken about this before when we confuse capability with capacity).* Which leads me to… --- ### 5. Alignment over expectation The biggest takeaway? It’s not about what I *can* do. It’s about what I *want* to do. I’m not a travel person. I’m not a city person. And that’s okay. I don’t need to be. The world might scream that we should love travel, thrive on adventure, and chase Instagram-worthy moments. But my world doesn’t work that way. What *does* inspire me? Joy. Peace. Ease. Feeling good. And that’s what I’ll keep chasing, in my own way, on my own terms. --- --- So, New York? It was an experience. And I’m glad I did it. But more than anything – *I’m glad to be home.*