Going

A year ago I wrote a blog post titled, "Staying". At the time I was growing increasingly restless with constant deliberations over whether to continue to live and work in South Africa; or, endeavour to exploring pastures new. Eventually, my restlessness capitulated in a proverbial putting down of the foot. I'm staying was my steadfast conclusion. And "Staying" was my attempt at explaining why. Of course, a year later, life has done its thing and I've changed my mind. I'm going. In contrast to my thoughts of a year ago, here's why...

Let's start with the simple stuff. The tangible, superficial things. For instance, the weather, the scenary and relative spending power. The weather speaks for itself. Warm weather year-round with winter providing - in my opinion - just the right amount of cold to balance it all out. The scenary also doesn't need much elaboration. From the wildfife savanna, to vast mountain ranges, to a diverse and emmaculate coastline. You really don't need to go far to find once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Whether it be hiking, river-rafting, marine activities, swinging through canyons or jumping one of the highest bungees in the world. It always feels like there's a local attraction - that you've yet to experience - waiting for you, just around the corner. Better yet, these experiences - as well as living in general - are likely to cost you less than most other places around the globe. Yes, this doesn't help if you are also bound by the local economy; but, globalization is key in enabling you to earn global and live local. In any case, let's get onto more notable aspects than those that are easy-to-point-to.

Of course, none of these tangible things have changed. South Africa is still the immensely beautiful place that it's always been. And, if you're lucky enough not to find yourself amongst the poverty-stricken majority of the country, your spending power will be far greater than most developed countries. However, if there are a million things that are easy-to-point to as reasons for staying in South Africa, then, there are a million things that appeal about living in any other country. Because, such is the nature of material things. For every security given in a developed country, there is an equivalent freedom that a developing country can give instead. And, for every bit of immense potential that South Africa can offer an individual, another country can offer, not potential, but guarantees. As for new experiences - I've come to know that, so long as time is made, those will not run out, no matter the place. The unique offerings of the South African landscape are awe-inspiring when given your attention; but, if you're willing to shift your attention, I believe there are equally unique offerings that can be explored everywhere else. In any case, let's get onto more notable aspects than those that are easy-to-point-to.

As the adage goes, home is where the heart is. I don't think the importance of this can be overstated. Family, friends, culture, history - all fundamental ingredients to the recipe for what makes you an individual. Knowing this makes it vital to keep them near and dear - because they are essential in reminding you about who you are at the core, and why you do what you do. The difficulty comes with maintaining balance in these regards. You want to hold onto the what makes you uniquely you, but you don't want that to limit yourself in terms of how far you're willing to get out there to learn new things, and grow. Albeit, I did say this motivation would be from a personal perspective. And, for me, staying represents the balanced approach. To be specific, at the moment I'm able to visit close family at least once a week. I'm surrounded with infrastructure, people and social norms that breed familiarity. Yet, there are a multitude of escapades in close vicinity that I've yet to take on. And taking them on I am - one-by-one, at a rate that I'm genuinely content with.

In the context of these deliberations, the above viewpoint, shared a year ago, is the most difficult for me to contrast with an equivalent. Because, there is no equivalent. 25 years I've lived in Pretoria, South Africa. I was born here. I grew up here. It is here that I became me. And, it is here that a part of me will always be. In going, I'll leave behind family, friends, and familiar surrounds. I'll leave behind sights, smells and sounds that breed feelings of home. I'll leave all these things behind...but - principally - I won't let them go. They'll remain a part of me. To remember, when I feel them. To return to, if I need them. However, taking a step away from their source, is something I must now do. And reading between the lines reveals exactly why I must do. Because there are a multitude of escapades in close vicinity that I've yet to take on. And taking them on I am - one-by-one, at a rate that I'm genuinely content with.

Still, let's not veer away from the challenges that are so prominent in South Africa at the moment. Without getting into the details, a concoction of unfortunate circumstances, decisions and events - made by individuals and collectives alike - have led to a flailing economy with a growing set of worrying symptoms. Safety, healthcare and job security are just the tip of a pile of concerns on the mind of all South African citizens. In my life, this represents a big problem. However, while there are of course a host of pedantics to consider, it comes down to a single question - will I embrace the challenge or will I run from it? Many will say the problem is too large to undertake as an individual. What I would say in turn, is that the South African problem is a collective one, and that any collective solution must inevitably consist of individual resolutions - of which I'm happy to make mine one. It is also, perhaps most importantly, about principle. If I am willing to run from one of the bigger problems in life, very little stops me from evading smaller problems as well. A dangerous path because, quite certainly, overcoming challenges is what builds character and without character it's so easy to lose your will.

A year later, the question remains the same...will I embrace the challenge or will I run from it? A year ago, I looked up at a mountain. Its peak, far and high in the distance. And, a year ago, I said yes to climbing the mountain. Today, having climbed for a year, I have a new vantage point. And, looking up, I can see what I thought was the peak, was just a plateau, preceding an even steeper climb to an even higher summit. And so, I am not forsaking the mountain; rather, I am choosing to embrace the entirety of the climb. To avoid settling on the plateau, to feed my ambition of reaching the top. To be more specific than an analogy, I am not leaving South Africa. I will continue to call it home. To invest in it. But, to be a better me, to do my part in making it all better, I need to be a South African elsewhere for a while. To say no to an opportunity in a new part of the world, would be to make the easy choice. It would be to evade the challenge. A dangerous path because, quite certainly, overcoming challenges is what builds character and without character it's so easy to lose your will.

So yes, there are difficulties and yes, they are immense; but, inevitably there will be difficulties everywhere. In the end, circumstance is relatively inconsequential - you can choose to focus on the good no matter where you are and what your surroundings look like. For me though - at least for now - choosing to embrace the chaos that is South Africa, fundamentally represents the type of decision I want to undertake for the duration of my life on this planet.

So yes, there are difficulties and yes, they are immense; but, inevitably there will be difficulties everywhere. In the end, circumstance is relatively inconsequential - you can choose to focus on the good no matter where you are and what your surroundings look like. For me though - at least for now - choosing to embrace the chaos that is exploration, fundamentally represents the type of decision I want to undertake for the duration of my life on this planet.

"don't be afraid

to leave it all behind…

there is new light, and new life,

there are new worlds waiting."

- Butterflies Rising