It is a Sunday afternoon and I'm sitting on a train heading back to London proper from Heathrow Airport. Amongst me are weary travellers, some their holidays just beginning, others arriving home ready to jump back into the reality of life.
And I'm sitting by myself. I wasn't on the way to the airport, but now I am. My travel buddy has gone through the big Departure doors, ready for a 3 week trip home to celebrate weddings and to catch up with friends and family.
It's an incredibly strange feeling. Not good nor bad. Just strange. Because for 8 months Nix and I have spent everyday together. While travelling South America and Europe we did every single thing as a team, and upon living in London we have woken up next to each other every morning and listened to the good and bad elements of our days as we prepare dinner each night. We are very lucky to have the chance to do so many things together, and more importantly actually want to do things together.
But now I have 3 weeks on my lonesome and while I'll miss her an incredible amount, I'm looking forward to seeing how I operate on my own for a while. I think my cousin Jon put it best when talking to his girlfriend when he said "Dom requires constant stimulation". And it's true. I love spending time with people, cracking jokes and telling stories. I struggle when I internalize things and so I frequently spout worries/concerns/thoughts to loved ones. This was evident while working at a particularly difficult school recently and my evenings were spent debriefing every element of the day. Luckily I have very patient housemates.
I also sing. Everything. Whether they're actual songs or made up songs or made up songs to the tune of actual songs, it matters not. I sing regularly. Now it's not a problem when Nix is there to either sing along or roll her eyes in confusion, but with a house to myself, it's essentially talking to myself, which is an early sign of madness. Fingers crossed she doesn't return to find me huddled in a corner with tin foil on my head.
Nix has left me homework though, to ensure I look after my mind, body and soul. The plan is for my brain to be so active that I'll be too tired to go insane. Plus I have some online courses to get started on and a 10k race to run.
I'm primed.
And I'm sitting by myself. I wasn't on the way to the airport, but now I am. My travel buddy has gone through the big Departure doors, ready for a 3 week trip home to celebrate weddings and to catch up with friends and family.
It's an incredibly strange feeling. Not good nor bad. Just strange. Because for 8 months Nix and I have spent everyday together. While travelling South America and Europe we did every single thing as a team, and upon living in London we have woken up next to each other every morning and listened to the good and bad elements of our days as we prepare dinner each night. We are very lucky to have the chance to do so many things together, and more importantly actually want to do things together.
But now I have 3 weeks on my lonesome and while I'll miss her an incredible amount, I'm looking forward to seeing how I operate on my own for a while. I think my cousin Jon put it best when talking to his girlfriend when he said "Dom requires constant stimulation". And it's true. I love spending time with people, cracking jokes and telling stories. I struggle when I internalize things and so I frequently spout worries/concerns/thoughts to loved ones. This was evident while working at a particularly difficult school recently and my evenings were spent debriefing every element of the day. Luckily I have very patient housemates.
I also sing. Everything. Whether they're actual songs or made up songs or made up songs to the tune of actual songs, it matters not. I sing regularly. Now it's not a problem when Nix is there to either sing along or roll her eyes in confusion, but with a house to myself, it's essentially talking to myself, which is an early sign of madness. Fingers crossed she doesn't return to find me huddled in a corner with tin foil on my head.
Nix has left me homework though, to ensure I look after my mind, body and soul. The plan is for my brain to be so active that I'll be too tired to go insane. Plus I have some online courses to get started on and a 10k race to run.
I'm primed.