Carol Olerud FRPS I am taking this opportunity to do some self-reflection. Having been born and raised in Australia, I feel a very strong affinity to it. I moved away at age 23. I have longed to go back and wanted to retire there. Now that I am 61, I look at my life as it is, what it was and how it will be. Recently becoming a Grandma in October this year to a gorgeous little girl, I realize that I won’t be leaving my family living here in The Netherlands, to go back to my ‘home’ country. In 2017/18 I had a medical scare, I underwent heavy treatment, I remained in denial. To get through the rough patch, which lasted 35 days of radiation treatment (weekend rest days, not included), I let my mind travel. A form of meditation. I needed to lay very still for about 12 minutes each time with a mask on my face and chest to keep me in place. I hated it. The place I travelled to was Lady Elliot Island, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. A place I had visited in 2015. I imagined I was snorkelling, swimming, walking on the beach, soaking up the sunrays. This was delightful. On reflection, travelling there in my mind, kept me strong. I decided to return to the islands off the coast of Queensland, Australia to go snorkelling with turtles again, drifting in the ocean, feeling free. I went in 2019. My husband and I did our ‘Great Island Hopping’ trip. But that’s for another book. I’ve survived it all and live on to enjoy everything life offers! October 2023
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