Achievements...Blogging Marathon 2014 Post 17

Achievement is the art of accomplishing or finishing something by means of exertion, skill, practice or perseverance. I've been thinking hard about what I've achieved in life and which of them stands out for me. If this question was posed to me had I been working, I know I wouldn't have been hard pressed for an answer - writing a complex process-note, researching a particular sector, giving an outstanding management presentation, building that perfect Excel report, the annual bonus, the promotion,  so many come to mind. Again, these would have been external validations to the efforts put in by me, but certainly a form of visible recognition. And all work-related, you notice.

Weaning my personality from my work-self was a big thing for me. In the last 7 odd years I've been a stay-at-home mom. I say it because staying a SAHM for so long was never in my scheme of things. We had come here for a short stay of 1 year, 2 years max. And it's now 7 years. In that period, I've become a Mom, twice over. I will be cliched and state that my kids are my biggest achievement so far and I delight in them. Certainly productive time ;) Honestly speaking, I take some pride in the fact that I have lived and thrived in a foreign country where I came in not knowing a soul. To a lot of people that sounds easy and laughable, but for me it is a  big thing. I did not have the benefit of  a somewhat easy and ready to tap network of colleagues etc to acquaint myself to the new place and life here.

When your husband leaves for his work, and you are left behind, it can be lonely and nerve-racking. Everything seems, sounds, smells and in reality is foreign. I think in the first two months, I used to just read like a maniac. Eventually, days would be full with baby and her needs, but I was often chided when I wanted something more. Trying my best to reconcile indefinitely to this way of life and be content in my present, have given it my best shot.

Now I do find myself almost at home here (it can never be 100 % for sure). Made some friends and said goodbye to a few. Have a set of acquaintances. Learnt a couple of new skills, like swimming and driving. Both have been achieved after letting go of some amount of inhibition and fear. For the latter, it is still Work-in-Progress. I also learnt (and sorry but my achievement update is always W-i-P) to try and speak two foreign languages - Dutch and French. All this whilst not forgetting the previous languages I knew:) 

I tried but could not take up work here on 3 occasions - with the kids being small, no driving skills then and no back-up support. That is my biggest regret actually.  I wish I could've claimed to have a great blog with super content and followers but clearly that too is not my claim to fame:) Met some nice people through it. The blog, surprisingly, has given me a kick-start with freelance writing, which is a great thing.

One can't rest on past achievements. There are always new goals to pursue. I think however small or big setbacks we encounter, when we pick ourselves up after a night's sleep and soldier on with renewed energy and hope, that is an achievement itself. This quote says it much better.

" Our achievements speak for themselves. What we have to keep track of are our failures, discouragements and doubts. We tend to forget the past difficulties, the many false starts and the painful groping."             

- Ethel Barrymore.