I have a bad habit of pushing my body and mind to their limits. Sometimes I do it through sport and exercise. Sometimes — more subconsciously — through mental and emotional stress.
These days, the latter tends to show up as flare-ups of a chronic skin condition I developed over the past year. It’s my body’s way of telling me I’ve been in overdrive for too long — that I need a break, a change, a safe place. It’s called Acne Inversa. I won’t go into details here (you can look it up if you’re curious), but let’s just say: it’s a really uncomfortable thing to live with.
Anyway — without dragging the mood down further — I’ve decided to make a few changes to my time in Australia. I had that realization when I was in Sydney about two weeks ago celebrating a friend‘s birthday. I realized how much I missed my friends – and the city – which is quite unusual for me.
When I first decided to move Down Under, my plan was to spend more time with friends and focus on my writing (more on that later…). But so far, I’ve been far too focused on getting these 88 days of specified work done — and completely forgot about my social life. And how important it really is.
I’ve been working non-stop — either at the café or on the farm — with maybe three full days off, on which I actually went out to explore. That’s not a healthy or sustainable lifestyle. At least not for me. Not for the plans and ideas I came here to bring to life. Not for the dreams I came here to work on.
That realization hit me one sunny afternoon while I was weeding. The task was to pull up fireweed from the fields where the cows and goats graze, because it’s toxic for them and spreads quickly if left unchecked.
I don’t actually mind work like that — not at all. I enjoy being outside, helping people, getting my hands dirty. But something shifted.
I realized: I was helping them build and maintain their dream life, while completely neglecting my own. Neglecting my body, too.
I was so focused on finishing those 88 days that I forgot what this whole thing was supposed to be about. Also, the field seemed endless. Whenever I pulled out a yellow flower another appeared right next to it.
Side note: Over the two years I spent in Canada — and even more so during my time in Austria — I learned just how important mental health is to me. And how important it should be for everyone. It’s only now starting to become something we actually talk about, something younger generations are taught to care for. But for so long, it was a taboo topic. I’m really glad that’s changing.
Alright. With that being said… I’m moving back to Sydney. For now, I’ll be living with a dear friend of mine and her mother.
I really enjoyed working at the café. I’ll miss the quiet of the farm. But it’s time for a new chapter. A more social chapter. A healthier chapter.
Saying goodbye to my hosts at the farm and some regulars at the cafe, who got used to my delicious pastries, was sadder than I imagined. Oh well..
In the end, it’s called Work and Travel — and I won’t make the same mistake I made in Canada. Don’t get me wrong – I wouldn’t change a thing about my time in Squamish, but this time, I want to travel more. And work in more places. And see more of this country.
Stay tuned for more! So long.
marie louise travels 