Here's to Yesterday

It dawned on me other day, I've lived in another country for half a year now. Not only another country, but a country on the other side of the planet. I'm 7/8 hours ahead of my friends and family back in the UK, I only talk to them through email. My parents I keep in touch with, but my friends have started to drift away from the lack of contact. Of the people I see on the regular here in Shanghai, I have passing conversation with my housemate and my most often seen friend group live in a neighbouring city (which is about 30mins away on a high-speed rail).

This is probably the most isolated I've been in years, and yet I'm feeling more connected than ever.

I'm talking to more people than ever, though not as much as I used to. I hopped back on IRC after nearly 5 years of no contact, only to be welcomed back with open arms. I'm losing weight in a good way, I'm enjoying life more, I'm seeing more of the world than I could have in my tiny bubble. I bump into other foreigners here (often with shouts of LAOWAI!!) and we just chat about life from all over the world. I've met fellow teachers, bankers, a few models, people from all walks of life all connected by being disconnected.

Hell, in two weeks' time, I'm going to Akihabara for a week. That has been on my list since I was 15, and here I am ten years on doing it as a brief holiday from teaching!

So why am I talking about this? Why is this important?

Because this time last year, I was stuck in a dead-end job. I had just split from someone I was sort of seeing, my first "relationship" in several years. My head was a mess, not as bad as it had been but pretty shit. I applied for this work on a whim, on a brief chance. Not only did I make it, beating 400 other applicants, but I couldn't have done it without the support of so many.

Because even though it was insanely difficult, and trying at times, I found it in myself to keep going, to keep pushing. Even though I panicked and stressed over every little thing, I am here. Living. Not surviving, but actually living. If it weren't for all that bullshit, I wouldn't be where I am. Things aren't perfect, true, but they're so much better.

And that's the message I want to send to you today. Oddly enough, it comes from a similar message I heard the other night. I managed to get tickets to a band I adore: Imagine Dragons. I heard Dan's story of battling with depression, and how he uses art to help him, and how he wants to help the world.

Even if you have little contact with others, even if you feel alone and trapped, we are connected. Through art, through words and language and music. Today may be a bad day, but tomorrow is on the horizon. And there will always be a tomorrow. So use today as your springboard, as your kick off as you run forward to something new.

Here's to your future, here's to your yesterday
Here's to change, here's to your yesterday
No tomorrow without a yesterday
Here's to your future, and goodbye to yesterday

Comments

[Skywriter]

I'm glad to hear things are on an upward trend!