Some of the many things we have learned from our first 12 months in India:

Just over 1 year has passed since we landed in our new life in India. What an incredible ride it has been.

Things we have learned:

We were more exhausted than we realized and our recovery from a particularly stressful year has taken longer than thought.

That breaking bones twice is more than twice as difficult then breaking them once.

To truly change those deep internal patterns of working hard and always doing more sometimes requires a forced stop, provided by life, a deep surrender and when you accept miracles can happen.

That India is a sub-continent more than a country and she has heartedly embraced us.

We know less Hindi than we had hoped but experience a greater and more settled sense of our place here.

Anytime we decide to go on an adventure for an afternoon or a week, we have the most magical experiences every single time.

We are very happy riding our enfield in the sun on the Indian roads.

Sometimes the selfish impatience of some drivers tests that happiness.

India can change you, but she won't necessarily change for you.

Her spirituality is her heartbeat, Sanatam Dhama runs through her rivers and is held in her mountains.

India is rapidly recovering herself from a colonial past but is doing so in a petrochemical economy and is working on how to handle expanding consumer and construction waste.

Unlike western countries it's not hidden from sight or sent overseas.

But they reuse and recycle much more than many ' cleaner' western countries.

That civil pride is quietly finding its way into this countries consciousness and making a difference.

We have made many wonderful friends and have a social life beyond what we expected.

That we would have had a much harder time establishing ourselves without the unconditional love and brotherhood of Manu Singh and his family.

Street dogs all have the most wonderful personalities and when you meet them with respect and love, you make a friend for life.

That we gave up so much from our life in New Zealand but continue to feel the love and support from the wonderful friends and clients we have made from over 30 years of work and business.

That our relationship is our home no matter where we are. And the love we live in has grown exponentially.

When people tell us we look happier and more relaxed than they have ever seen us we feel blessed in our choice and feel the truth of this in our bones.

That living in the known and familiar gives the illusion of control and certainty.

But when we surrender to the constant of the unknown you make room for possibilities you could not have imagined.

Those 48 degrees is hot in summer and your one AC unit becomes a shrine of worship and gratitude.

The God's and Goddess of India are real, that temples hold energy and each of us has the key that let's this into your heart.

Thanks for following and supporting our journey.