43: My Quest for Stability

CHAPTER 43: My Quest for Stability

QUOTE: "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." —Albert Einstein

LESSON: Learning to adapt in the face of adversity

SYNOPSIS: After moving into the Pink Palace, a hotel near the U.S. border, we created a routine; Emilie joined hip-hop classes and made friends, while Olivier attended a boxing gym. I worked as a Tai Chi teacher in Vancouver's Chinese neighborhoods. However, our fragile peace was disrupted when Olivier developed tinnitus after a sparring session, His health struggles escalated with joint pain and anxiety, and I found myself overwhelmed, balancing his needs, our financial constraints, and Pierre’s sudden demands for attention. By the end of the year, I faced the harsh reality that life in Canada wasn’t working for us. I couldn’t find stable work, and my savings were dwindling. It was then that I realized I needed to stop following the path of least resistance and pursue the life I truly wanted. New Zealand began calling to me louder than eve with its promise of space to heal and rebuild.