Pack for a purpose - Moving out of the country

Hello, my friends! We are back on another step in the journey of becoming a coach.

Before today’s post, a few things:

1. Timeline - the posts won’t necessarily follow a chronological order. We can say we will embark on a non-linear journey;

2. Writing skills - as you may have noticed by now, English is not my native language. I hope you don’t mind mistakes here and there… if you do care, let’s talk! Maybe it is an excellent opportunity for coaching, or perhaps I am not the coach for you at this moment;

3. Language - I will also be posting in Portuguese, my native language (it won’t be perfect either). I just ask your patience as it will be delayed from the English version.

I am letting it go! Opening space for new things in life!

“What would you pack if you only could take two suitcases to move out of the country? What is essential to you moving forward?”

This whole process represented more than a moving event. It was an incredible metaphor for us, as a family and as individuals, which I believe could potentially serve you as well. We experienced and witnessed how the whole process of a practical external change can impact our internal change experience and vice-versa. Letting go of limiting beliefs and anything that no longer serves us to open up space for positive empowering ways of thinking and attitudes, relationships, and opportunities. I am grateful to have witnessed positive impacts beyond our family, in friends, neighbors, extended family, everyone who has been walking along with us during this process.

I could dramatically describe this process (soon, you will know the numbers). For me, the process was straightforward and more peaceful than stressful, maybe due to past experiences and mindset for the task. Watching out for signs of struggle in my family to walk together had a profound impact in embracing the diverse way people choose what to value and what is essential in their lives.

“Watching for signs of struggle in my family to walk together had a profound impact in embracing the diverse way people choose what to value and what is essential in their lives.”

Mid- 2017, a house of 5 to move (the youngest child would be born a year later), one child moving out to College, and Ponyo, our dog whom my parents-in-law lovingly adopted. A few more numbers: Six (6) open houses - Two (2) months - more than one thousand (1000) items - wonderful family, friends, and neighbors! Mission Accomplished!

“Six (6) open houses - Two (2) months - more than one thousand (1000) items”

If you are curious about the numbers, it was an eye-opening exercise to keep track of all the items. It was our upgrade list, a let-go-list, whatever you want to name it. For us, it represented steps towards materialistic freedom.

Another interesting fact is that open houses, yard, or garage sales are not typical in Brazil. Considering the pros and cons, that was a risk we took, much planning with contingencies and risk mitigation. It was a fantastic experience.

Personal insights and Learnings:

1. More space (physical or mental) we have, more willing we are to fill it. We were wisely choosing what would bring us the most positive impact for our purposes.

2. Letting go is more than okay. It is essential for our growth and development as human beings.

3. Building trust comes with building positive relationships in our lives.

4. Empowered by faith, I experienced and witnessed reconciliation and new meaning in life. Gifts in giving, in listening, in being present in the moment.

5. Cultivating gratitude for every encounter and relationship created is a habit to be nurtured.

I like to plan. I improvise as well. Maybe that is why I enjoyed the moving process so much. That doesn’t mean it was easy. Indeed, it took longer for our decision-making and planning process than the actual doing it. I consider ourselves experienced with moving (5 times as a family), but this one had a different meaning.

It was a powerful metaphor for transformation, letting go of materialist pride, intellectual pride, opening new space in life for new things, new perspectives, new relationships. I am grateful to have met beautiful people along the process. With new partnerships and volunteering, new skills and competencies developed and a new look to our humanity.

Gratefully,