Goodbye Byron Bay

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My time in Byron has finally come to an end.

I've learnt so much and grown so much during my three and a half months in Byron, so it feels very bitter-sweet to be leaving.

I'm really proud to say that I lived in my van for two months. This is something I wasn't expecting but I'm so glad I did it. I loved it but it certainly was a challenge at times!

The past month, as I've known I'll be leaving soon, has been the best and most enjoyable time in Byron. It sometimes works that way as the pressure is off and you are more mindful about the place you're in, making the most of all the opportunities. I moved into a hostel, the Arts Factory, which was so fun and probably my favourite hostel I've ever stayed in. 
It's been SO much fun as well as nourishing; I've learnt a lot from amazing people and grown so much.

I've met the most incredible people, had some amazing and fun experiences, and grown in ways I never could have imagined. Especially in Arts, I met people I connected with on another level. Some of my best friends in Byron I only knew for 2 or 3 weeks!
On top of that, I've grown close with people of all ages and all nationalities. I loved that it was totally normal for me to look up when I was with a group of people and see such a mixture of beautiful humans from all different walks of life, getting to know each other and sharing wisdom.
This restored my faith in travelling, and that you can find fantastic people anywhere, you just have to look in the right places.

Recently I learnt a new word that I really relate to: metanoia.
Google defines it as a change in one's way of life resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion.
I feel like I really relate to this as it seems my mindset has completely changed in this past month. I feel like I have a new way of thinking of the world, everything has been shaken upside down and all that's left is what really matters.

Some people will already know something else that has been occupying my mind in my last few weeks in Byron- I got my wisdom teeth out. 
It happened rather suddenly as I started to feel pain in my tooth while I was at work, and I managed to get a dentist appointment just two days later. Next thing I know I'm getting two wisdom teeth out on one side, and spending a lot of money for it too! 
The aftermath of the extraction was really painful and lasted way longer than I would have thought. I was in sooo much pain, I could only eat soup, and I couldn't go to work for 6 days (not for lack of trying...). I'm so thankful for the amazing friends I made in the hostel as they looked after me and kept my spirits high during this time. I can't thank Baldino enough- he literally looked after me the entire time and even cooked dinner for me three days in a row, I couldn't have done it without him! 

I'm also grateful to Dandelion and Chantelle for being there to support me during that time- you are all such incredible people who I will never forget! ❤
The dentist let me keep my teeth so I made a necklace out of them. A lot of people think this is goulish but I see it as my war trophy! 
Plus, how could I get rid of them, that's all my wisdom in there...
They're massive lol

Saying goodbye to Byron also means seeing the back of my cleaning jobs, as during my time in Byron I've been a housekeeper at two different hostels. Safe to say I won't miss that as much as other parts of my life in the bay, although it was a lot of fun working with some really great people!

That feeling of homesickness hasn't gone away but it has eased a lot. I'm not sure when I'll be coming home but I am thinking it won't be too far away. The next few months may be the beginning of the end of my trip, or it may be a new lease of life for me to start something new in Australia. We'll have to just wait and see, and trust that the universe has me exactly where I need to be.

Currently as I'm writing this I'm on a plane to Sydney to visit some friends for a bit (and surprising Keiran hehhe)...
I've left Ian in Brisbane where I'll return to for a bit after a few days in Sydney.
But after that I've got absolutely no plans! It's really freeing and exciting to just be free with no plans now. I can do whatever I want and go wherever I want. I'm so excited to see what experiences this next part of my adventure has on store for me...

Shepp x

P.s. I successfully surprised Keiran in Sydney and he had no idea

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