Closing a Chapter

{My engagement ring in 2012}

Two years and two days ago, I got engaged. At the time, I was feeling over the moon to be starting the dream that I'd always had for myself - to be happily married to a man that I love, with a home and white picket fence, and one day, children to love and nurture. Unfortunately, I was too blinded by my "dream" to see that the relationship was toxic, and that it was taking away a little piece of who I was, day by day. I had become a shadow of who my family and friends knew me to be, and for this, I knew that I could never be happy, "dream" fulfilled or not. 

After that relationship ended, and not on amicable terms, I returned home to Canada, leaving Hong Kong, and him, for good. I was embarrassed to admit to the heartache and pain that I felt when it ended, but today, after having the opportunity to share my faith journey in my Religious Education course with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (I was hired as a permanent teacher upon my return in March 2013), I felt the need to close this chapter. I chose to do it here, on the blog that I had started with the intention of documenting my journey to Hong Kong, and my experiences adjusting to life there. 

What I went through when my relationship ended, I believe, had to happen so that I could finally see and understand what it means to truly be happy. This part of my life is now over, and I am overjoyed to be sharing a new and much happier beginning with someone that I was blessed to have met after a difficult time in my life. As we celebrate 1 year together, tomorrow, I can only look back and believe that things happen for a reason, as cliché as that may sound, because I have never been more content and at peace in my life, and for this, I will never have any regrets. 

{A much happier me with David, my boyfriend - 2014}