One year

2nd of November. Today is exactly one year since I started a new journey 5000 km away from my home. In a city of opportunity, in Dubai.

Living away from your loved ones, family, friends is not as easy as it seems. Every day you meet new people, find new friends and new experiences, but home will always be home. The first goodbye from home is the easiest one. The following ones become harder and harder, every next one hurts a little bit more. So many times I asked myself: “Is my journey worth all this sacrifice?” I have cried many times, and not only shed tears, but crying sobs. But why, if life in Dubai is so simple, so “dazzling”?

You miss silent walk on the green grass with your best friend. You miss amazing sunset in the pleasant autumn months. You miss the first blooming flower that awakens in the April’s dew. You miss the family night by the pleasant flames of fire in the fireplace. You miss sparkling look of an old lady on the street. You miss the laughter and playfulness of children. You miss all things you once took them for granted – tree, mountains, earth, even stone. And what do you miss the most? You only miss that gentle touch. Touch can speak a thousand words, even if no words are said. Mom’s and Dad’s touch. Sister’s touch. Friend’s touch. Touch of relatives. Touch of strangers. Their touch. But you miss his touch the most. A touch that makes sense of life. A touch that makes us willing to risk everything.

And I took the risk. I’m here today, here in Dubai. Far away and yet so close. Far away from loved ones, but always in their minds. Far from the eyes, close to the heart. And no matter how far you are, there will always be something that will take you forward. Will, determination, courage or even desire. There will always be something. And there will always be someone who will encourage you along the way. Parents, partners, friends, or even a stranger. There is always someone who thinks about you. Remember this.

But don’t forget putting yourself first. You have to turn every difficult experience to your advantage. I wiped every tear with pride. Each tear made me stronger. Today, a tear can be a reflection of weakness. But it’s important to rise again after each one. This is what makes you strong. Any doubts that arose in my path, I dispelled with thoughts of the experience. Sometimes small and irrelevant experiences, but definitely worth the risk. I gave a wide smile to every bad day. Maybe smile didn’t change the day, but it changed me. And I made a day for someone close to me. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

And despite all the falls, I have grown personally. I realized that such an irrelevant act, a conversation, a thing, can become important overnight. Only one word can change our thinking, it can change us. One experience can change a person. And one person can change another. Never judge people by their past. People learn. People change. People move on. The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

I am thankful to those special people in my life who support me along the way. To all of you who show me love. To all of you who gave me the opportunity to show you who I am. To all of you who didn’t judge me about the past, but look to the future. To all of you who accept me as I am. In fact, sometimes we have to lose ourselves to discover who we are. Just dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true. I did it and I live my dreams today. I’m happy.