erm… I’m not living in the Outback though
Hello my friends!
So I just want to give you an update on my life so you know what’s going on with me. I’m very excited, but I’m also very overwhelmed at the moment!
First of all, we had an awful, rainy, June and July up here on the west coast of Canada. The weather has finally turned for the better, but it feels like summer has only just started, when in fact, it’s almost over! I can practically feel the chill in the air this morning!
As you may know, I’ve been working full time this summer at a kayak rental company. This is my fifth summer there, and believe me… it’s a great job. I love getting to be outside in nature, and there are usually excellent people who work there with me. It’s fun. This summer, I got my boyfriend, Luke (who is an Australian), a job there as well and we’ve been living in our cute little cabin in the woods for the last four months.
Living in The Stone Ages – No Internet at Home!
The problem has been that… well… yes, I know this is 2011, but we couldn’t get the internet at our cabin. All of the internet gets beamed by line of site to the tiny fishing village I live in, and it wouldn’t penetrate the trees to my house. So I’ve been blogging at cafes and sneaking into my workplace after hours… getting onto it at any chance and opportunity.
If you’ve been following my blog for long, you know that I consistently update the blog every other day with a video or an article. To be perfectly honest, this hasn’t been easy at at all. I spend all my time off from work blogging, and it’s extra difficult because, sure, I can make videos and articles offline and then put them up, but the internet is so useful to research the things I want to talk about! Not to mention I’m now doing extra guest videos for High on Health on top of my own, and of course, I want to be able to answer all your emails and comments quickly. But if I miss a day, the emails pile up like crazy. Things are starting to get stressful!
Anyway…. our jobs at the kayak shop are ending in September, and then the winter looms. What are we gonna do for work? Where are we gonna live?
Most of you may realize that I want to make a living from this blog. Not an outrageous living or anything, but the facts are – I LOVE the blog, and I love helping you guys, and doing something fun and creative for myself, but I absolutely couldn’t be doing it to this quality and consistency for much longer if I was expected to also work a full time job at the same time. There’s just not enough hours or energy in the day!
So here’s the thing: I’m not making a living from the blog quite yet, but I don’t want to get another job so that I can fully concentrate and put all my love and energy into helping you guys get clear. But Luke needs a job. We also have quite a bit of debt to pay off. Wages in Canada are also pretty crappy, I find. Soooooo…….. what are we doing?
We’re Moving Down Unda’!
After much deliberation, mostly over money, we’ve decided that we are going to move to Australia (for four or 5 months anyway… we’ll be coming back to Canada next summer). I literally bought us both plane tickets an hour ago.
The catch is that we have to live with his parents though :/ It will offset the cost of the plane tickets, I’ll be able to focus solely on the blog, he’ll be able to make a better wage than here in Canada, we can pay off our debts, and then get ahead so that we never have to mooch off our parents again. Can’t argue with that, right?
Sooo yeah. I’m a little nervous about this whole thing… I haven’t actually met his parents yet (you know… since they live all the way across the Pacific Ocean). They sound like lovely people and I’m sure everything will be fine, but this brings up all sorts of personal fears and issues (mostly surrounding food)… but that’s another blog post altogether!
So here’s the deal: We’re leaving in one month. September 10th is when the flight is booked for. Since we need to save money to pay off our plane tickets, I’m working a crazy amount this month. We also have to move out of our house and tie up all sorts of loose ends. Basically, all I’m saying is that posting may be patchy for the next few weeks. I mean like… maybe sometimes it’ll be THREE days between postings. And maybe it’ll take me longer to reply to your comments. Yes…. nothing serious.
Things Will Be Right Back to Normal…
The good news is that after that, things will be right back to normal, and I’ll be able to take things to a new level, with renewed zest! I want to develop some kind of group coaching course, and set up personal, one-on-one consultations.
My favourite idea of all though has been to develop some kind of …. “positivity challenge”. I know that dealing with the emotional side of acne is extremely difficult, and while I tell you that emotional turmoil contributes to acne, it’s obviously REALLY hard to just turn it off. I want to host some kind of video course… seven or ten days of positivity and tools to help you change your emotional outlook, while also opening a forum for those of you doing the challenge at the same time to chat and support each other.
Is this something you guys would be interested in? What sort of in-depth course, or book, or product do you think people would find useful for their battle with acne?
And aside from that, do you guys also have general blog post or video suggestions or questions for me? It may help me get through the next month or so if I have some ideas on hand!!!
Thanks everyone, I love you all so much!
And by the way, a thousand thank yous to anyone who has bought my book so far. I had a lot of fear of ‘selling’ that I had to get over in order to put that up for sale, but I have to remind myself all the time that I am helping people and enhancing the lives of others. I really hope you are all enjoying it! xoxo
Good Luck!!!! I hope every thing works out wonderfully for you and Luke : )I also have a request. My face was almost clear from following the seven steps from your ebook when I got a severe case of POISON IVY! It wasn’t so bad until it spread onto my face. It is now on my forehead, right cheek, nose, neck,and arms. I am not sure what to do. Do you have any natural remedies? Thank You <3
Ooh… poison ivy…. I’m sorry to hear that! I’ve never had it, sounds horrible though… maybe try tea tree oil mixed with aloe vera?
wow, what an incredible turn of events! i’m really happy for you! i hope you find Australia much nicer than Canada (weather!) and I hope that you will fit right in with your new surroundings 🙂
and the new ideas sound great! i’m glad that you’re finding a way to help us as well as help yourself.
good luck!
Thanks Jeff! xo
Wow! That sounds incredible. I’d just like to take this moment (or comment) to thank you for your hard work on this blog… because this post really shows how much you want to keep it going. I don’t mean to speak on behalf of everyone, but I’m sure the people who visits the blog frequently and takes their time to email you and comment on articles respects you and love you sooo much!
I hope you stop feeling pressured into writing new stuff on a constant basis. There are so many informative articles in the archive section of the blog to keep us all going if your ever unable to write… so don’t feel like your letting us down or anything. I think what you’ve done since the new year when you began the blog is, if I’m honest, heroic and soooo kind. I really do appreciate it!!
I hope the move to Australia works out well and you and your boyfriend have a good time! I’d definitely be interested in taking part in the proposed things you spoke about developing, of course when you get the time to develop them – no rush.
Something that this blog does, which NO other acne website on the internet has ever been able to do, is have so much genuine care and affection for it’s readers so much!
I already said in the email I sent you, but these kind words mean a lot to me 🙂 Thank you so much Steve!
Congrats to you!! I so appreciate your hard work for all of us and the hope you impart (major deal). Also, with this big leap, you inspire me to follow my heart. : )
Definitely follow your heart!!! <3
COOL! Australia is the best! (hehe I’ve lived there for most of my life!) It sounds like your gonna experience lots of exciting changes to come! I like the sounds of a video course or something like that to “challenge” people (like me) to address there emotional issues with acne. Personally I feel like somedays I have come a long way with my emotions but still can fall back into my own negative thoughts from time to time and feel really down and like a “victim” which I realise can be silly when I have so much to look forward to in my life 😛 so something like a “challenge” wouls be realy motivating for me to stop the self negative talk. I suppose thats one of the reasons why I like visiting your blog, because it inspires me to be happy and healthy, I really appreciate the time and effort you put into it 🙂
Hi Jess!
I feel the same way… I also feel like i’ve come a huge way with my emotions, but sometimes I still fall back on the negative side of things (usually when I get a breakout, of course hahah)… I really like the idea of the positivity challenge because I think it’s something that people REALLY need even if they don’t realize it….. I think it would really help me stay positive too!
I want to thank you for all your work on this blog, it helped me to become aware of many things and I think not only me. I´m looking forward to “emotional issues” posts. Then you mentioned you are a little bit afraid of living with new people (your lifestyle, their lifestyle), so it could be an interesting post, for ex. how to deal with it, how to talk to people and especially how to be more open to them (and not only about food). It´s still a great issue for me (self-esteem again, I know).
You´ll have great time in Australia, definitely! I envy you a little bit. Summer again!
Good luck!
Yeah I thought about that too! I’m nervous about going and living there and losing some control over my food (even though his parents apparently read my blog and are aware of everything)… but I realized hey… this is a challenge, and it’ll be great blog fodder! I mean, I realize that plenty of my readers live with their parents and other people who do the shopping or cooking or have some kind of say in their food choices… so it’ll help me to relate better to that situation! 🙂
Dear Tracy,
did you try hypnosis with the guy you met at that festival? If so, please consider this as an idea for a post.
You know, we hung out and chatted and he said that he would be willing to give me a free hypnosis session, but we haven’t managed to get together again! The problem is that he isn’t always in my town, he comes and goes… and of course, I’ve been busy! I just talked to him though to see if we can fit it in before I leave, but it may not happen.
It’s too bad though because I’m totally intrigued by hypnosis!!
This is AWESOME Tracy! I wish you and Luke LOTS of luck! Maybe, just maybe, I will come visit you while you live there! I am getting closer and closer to being able to travel around the world. I still plan on moving to Orlando, FL for 7 months prior to November 1 but, well, time will tell…
If I have the money to travel around the world and if I am able to sleep well, then, well, I might just do that!! It is my absolute dream.
P.S. When you get to Australia we need to start that podcast! I think we will rock the world 😉
And, if you want any help with your forum, coaching, etc. you know who to email! I’ve had thoughts of getting back into the acne niche and, well, you only know if you do or not if you give it a shot!
All the best,
PT
Hey Tracy,
Congrats on heading to Australia….I’m sure your feeling a little overwhelmed right now, but just take a deep breath and trust that the divine universe is guiding you on your path. I just want to thank you for creating this blog, as I’ve enjoyed all of your posts & vids…you are a gorgeous soul who’s making a positive difference to many peoples lives, including my own….I especially loved the post you did on the emotion code, which I’m now reading & loving it 🙂
I’m not sure which state you will be living in here ( Australia) but, if you are in Melbs feel free to come visit and share a paleo dish with me… lol 🙂 oh.. I have kefir too!! hehe
Love & gratitude
Annette
Hi Annette!
Unfortunately not Melb…. I’d rather live down in Vic! But you can’t choose your in-laws. But hey, I can’t complain about them living in Australia.. it’s a lot better than them being from Northern Canada or somewhere equally as horrible! So anyway, I’ll be living about an hour north of Sydney on the Central Coast, which looks like a very nice area!
Wow, a move to an entire different continent…that’ll be soo exciting for you!! I just made a move from one coast to the other in the US and I already think that the change is huge. Do you have any concern that the changes in environment and temperature would trigger acne again? I know that the humidity where I am isn’t helping for me, since I’m not used to humidity at all. =/ What about a blog about maintaining a diet or skincare regiment through a huge move? =]
I would definitely be interested in the challenge!
Hi Shelly! yes I definitely think that this whole thing will conjure up some challenges which will translate into some helpful blog posts! We’ll see what happens! 🙂
As for humidity triggering acne…. I don’t know. For some people that is a problem, but I don’t think it is for me… my skin is normally pretty dry and usually likes hotter temperatures. But you never know… it could trigger something weird!! I did temporarily break out in bad bacne the first time I went there! We’ll just have to see. I don’t want to live in fear!
Best of luck to you two and safe travels! I am excited for your blog to grow as I have learned a lot with your help! I would be interested in some sor of live question and answer session where we can all discuss what is on our minds. Two things that I am interested in right now is zinc and its ability to help acne and also acupuncture.
Cool, I was thinking about doing that too (the live question/answer thingy), so we’ll see about getting that going!
Yippee!! I can’t wait to meet up with you – I’ve been driving around the local area a bit… you are SO going to love it here 🙂 the markets i went to today were so chilled and cool, full of interesting people and amazing natural beauty stuff. Hope all is well with packing and organising x
Hi Alissa!! I’m also super excited to head down there and meet up with you!! I’m sad you aren’t sticking around longer though 🙁 Oh well! We’ll have fun anyway!
Hi Tracy…
A late reply… I saw this page showing up as a reference to my Flickr Picture (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurgenlison/sets/72157603807260269/) – thank you for the reference ! We enjoyed visiting Australia a few years back, so I hope you’ve settled in by now and I am sure you will enjoy the wintertime (or local summertime) much more than in Canada !
JURGEN
Thanks Jurgen! I always wondered if the owners of the pictures I use actually get notifications! You’re the first one to say anything haha….. thanks for letting me use the pic 🙂
I’ve been to Australia before as a backpacker a few years ago and travelled around a lot but never made it to Uluru… maybe this time, it looks incredible! x