I can't believe I didn't get time to blog before I left for Europe. I can't believe I've gone and am back already, a year older. It was a bit of a whirlwind trip to start off with, deciding to join my client (who has blossomed into a very dear friend) on her travels through the world of theatre in London and Vienna.
The countdown to leaving was crazy, with clients needing things finished before I left and having landed 3 social media publicity events, all for the first two weeks of October. Chat Factory had it second, exciting growth spurt and I also hired an assistant community manager just before leaving. Showing her some of the ropes to hang onto while I was gone and leaving everything in the hands of my very capable and super special team of B and M (with my business partner & bestie, Greggie, ever in the wings) I flew out last Saturday afternoon.
London has a special place in my heart. I have memories of when my sister left there and it was also my first overseas experience straight after I matriculated. I have dear friends there too and it was special to get to see two of them. It was also even more special that they paid for tea, because our plummeting South African Rand makes for less fun times in Europe. We took Rooibos with us and I made a big cup everyday and shamelessly refilled my Starbucks mug to carry around with me!
When we weren't converting our Rands to much stronger currencies, we were at the theatre. That was the reason for the trip and I spent every night counting my blessing that my social media career led me to the experiences of theatres around the world. I was most proud of myself, that I was able to see what would work for our SA audiences as well as how our stages worked in comparison to the oversees ones.
I got to see Gypsy and Miss Saigon in London ... just wow!
I've wanted to see Miss Saigon for countless years and it was so worth the wait. I was mesmerised and swept away.
By the time we had spend our pounds and made our way to Vienna, it was one day away from my 42nd birthday. It was thrilling ... but it was also freezing cold! We hadn't expected the weather to turn so quickly, but that was naive of us South African girls. That's the story of a European spring. We made it through the cold and got to see the opening night of Mozart Das Musikal. That's the way to turn 42!!!!
The following day was the long trip home, which give me so much time to think. I had bought gifts for everyone, including myself and was longing for the SA sun.
During my trip back, I kept thinking how lucky I was to have had the experiences I have had. I wasn't only thinking about this trip, but about my one earlier this year, my businesses, my friends and family ... the list goes on. I thought about the tea I had bought in London and how I didn't care to convert it, because chocolate tea must never be left behind. How lucky am I to have such a great relationship with money.
Then the lights were turned off on the plane and everyone started to fall asleep. As I drifted off, I thought about all the exciting things and people I was heading home to and how lucky I was. But then reality shook me awake for one moment. I'm not lucky ... what is luck? That's something random, that happens per chance, like the roll of a dice. This didn't happen by luck ... this happened by hard work, passion, belief in myself and faith in my beliefs. This happened because of years of working on my self worth, my business, my dreams!!
This was 42 years of Jodene, waking up and going to sleep, each day in gratitude!!!
