A Brave New World? by Grant Leishman As we begin the long road back to “normal” and start to come out of these lockdown conditions caused by the pandemic, I wonder how many of the readers have had deep thoughts about the direction of their lives. Change, fear, and doubt about the future can certainly trigger thoughts of, where am I going and what am I trying to achieve? I know those thoughts full well, as I went through a similar selfexamination some years back. I’d like to recount the story of my attempt to create a “brave new world” for myself in the hope that it may inspire someone to begin their own journey of self-discovery. *
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I was nervous, bloody nervous, if the truth be known but I was also determined. I'd made a right cock-up of things up to that point and I figured it was about time to make something good happen in my life. Deep breath and walk; you can do this, Grant.
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Just over ten years ago, (March 29th 2011, if you want to be exact about it) at 9.30 in the morning, I walked through the automatic doors at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and into the unknown. Oh, it wasn't like I hadn't been to The Philippines before, I'd been here numerous times, although not for almost eleven years.
I knew I always had a fallback position (a plan B, if you like), if things didn't work out but that wasn't something I even wanted to contemplate, in my worst nightmares; running back to New Zealand with my tail between my legs and the expected taunts from family and friends; "told you so", "I always said it was a dumb idea Grant", and worst of all actually, the looks of sorrow and pity I would get from my nearest and dearest. No, I knew this was probably my last shot at happiness, at making something work in my life and I wasn't going to give it up without a fight.
Nope, it was the unknown for a very different reason. I had left my life in New Zealand behind; kissed my seventeen-year-old son and fourteen-year-old daughter, goodbye and boarded a flight bound for Manila, with little possessions and bugger-all money, just a burning desire, at 51-years-old, to try to rebuild a life that had been shattered by some bad and calamitous decisions.
I'd been friends with Thess for over four years, online, before I decided to take that ultimate step and come here. It had been something that had been brewing in my mind for a long time but it was probably my 50th birthday that crystallized it and made me decide it wasn't just a good idea, it was essential. As we all do, probably, on these annual milestones, I’d sat down
Little did I know, as I took a deep breath at the top of the ramp that leads down to the waiting area what the next ten years would hold in store for me. I was about to meet, in person, for the first time, some of the most important people in my brave, new, world; my future wife and two of her children. - 28 -
