This is the building we are now living in, it was built at the beginning of the 1900's

It has these amazing grounds and dark narrow walk ways underground. It's near the city yet peaceful like Clifton village. It's just 10 minutes walk from the coast. 

There is this amazing thing that happens when you travel to a different country, especially when you are seeking to embrace the culture. 

You start to compare. 

You have a frame of reference of the things you grew up just labelling and largely ignoring. 

Our brains do that, they create short cuts for everything to allow us to focus on survival. 

Now everyday life is immediately more interesting and intriguing and even fulfilling. 

It's like you're a child again, everything becomes fascinating. 

I've noticed this as I try to wrap my head around the new culture and history but it's different again for Christina. 

She is returning home again after a 14 year absence. She is noticing new beauty in the things she already knew. 

It's so easy for us to take loved ones, places, language for granted when it's close and known. 

Fresh eyes though, reveal new depths.

Try dropping the labels you've placed on your loved ones. Start a conversation you wouldn't have, ask a question of them you haven't asked before, ask for new advice and opinions. 

Learn a new language, it's the quickest way to unravel and un-label the stereotypes we place on our words. 

The art of communication is in knowing that everyone gives different meaning to every word and until we seek that meaning we aren't really hearing. 

Every object, person, word in our world has a fascinating story just waiting to be uncovered and in that uncovering is a deeper and richer life. 

Almost everyone I know who has emigrated loves life more than they did before and I don't think it's because the place is more interesting,
I think it's because with fresh eyes, we are all more interested.

And we don't need to move to find that 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder 

Ed Ley