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2 March 2007,
six months since we got back to the UK. We didn't start work until 23
January 2007 so we had five months to recover, sleep and adjust to life
back home. We resisted the easy option of going back to our old jobs and
instead set up our own training company, which up to now has kept us busy.
Our attitudes
have changed to many things, not least of all people! In so many ways we
have become far more understanding and tolerant of most cultures, with the
exception of one in particular, and more laid back about life. However we
have also become much less tolerant towards people who make little or any
effort towards friendships, the world we live in and the people and
wildlife we share it with. We have become far more environmentally aware,
although our "carbon footprint" after travelling for a year may cause some
raised eyebrows in that respect!
Whereas before
we went away recycling was a pain that we could not be bothered with, we
now recycle as much as we possibly can and try to make sure we turn off
plugs, don't leave lights on, etc, and we do drive slower (although that
is probably mainly because the Sat-Nav warns you when you try to break
light speed!)
Our spending has
also become a lot more thrifty. After Angela controlled our budget for
the year, we came back without any debt whatsoever which, when you
consider what we did and the fact that we had no income for 18 months, was
quite an achievement! We have got into a habit of questioning if we
really need to spend money on this or that and have become very focused on
putting money towards our future plans rather than materialistic
belongings! That doesn't mean that we have turned into Tom & Barbara Good
or we are not spending money on ourselves or our home, it just means we
have stopped being impulse buyers.
We really have
got our lives in perspective over the time we were away and since we have
been home. Whilst our plans are very much a moveable project, we are
clearly focused on the things that are important to us in life.
To quote Mark
Twain:
"Twenty years from now you will be more
disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So
throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour and catch the
trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
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