Sunday, October 2, 2011

One Year Later

I had planned to celebrate my one year of living in the arctic with a glass of wine but I was so busy working that the day flew by and I forgot about it until a week later. I can officially say that I have lived in the North for a whole year.

I just got off the phone with my Grandma, who lives in Toronto. She told me about the last family gathering that I missed and how wonderful it was. The joy it brought to her made me so happy that I cried silently while she spoke. She talked about my sister, whose twentieth birthday just passed, and the cruise my family is planning to take in March. I cannot believe I have lived without the people I love most for a whole year.

In the last year I have moved across the Country, moved in with my boyfriend, started a new job, switched jobs, opened the first Tim Hortons in the arctic, endured an awful breakup and lived on my own for the first time. I have met incredible people who have changed my life. I fell in love again and had my heart broken. I have gone on amazing skidoo trips, hung out in polar bear feeding grounds and experienced sun that lingers in the sky all night. I have seen snow ten months of the year and made snow angels in a bathing suit. I have taken a polar bear dip in the freezing cold waters of Frobisher Bay and danced under the glow of the Northern Lights.

If anyone had asked me where I would be in a year, I would never have said here, living this life, blessed with the people I have around me. I never knew I had this kind of independence in me or that I was strong enough to overcome the challenges that I have faced.

This life is so unpredictable and has taken me on a ride that I never expected. Sometimes there are things I wish I could take back or do differently but when I think about it, I am a completely different person than I was before this year. I wouldn't take back all of the lessons I've learned or the experiences that I've had. I've always believed that everything happens for a reason, so I'm learning to simply hold on for the ride.

Here's to another enlightening year in Nunavut.

With love from a snow covered Iqaluit

4 comments:

Lisa said...

I love you and miss you very much! But I'll be there for a snuggle real soon! Love Mom xxoo

Unknown said...

Hi Melissa,

I devoured your blog in a day a few months ago, and have been keeping tabs ever since - congrats on one full year in the north!

I just found out Monday that I'll be joining you early November - I'm Iqaluit bound! :) Thanks for sharing your blog - it helps future Iqalummiut like me (am I using that in the right tense?!) feel a little less panicked about it all!

Hope you're having a great week :)

~ Melody

Nathan said...

Really enjoy your blog, I travel throughout the North for business but only stay for a few days at a time in Iqaluit, Yellowknife and Whitehorse, and you have given me a number of ideas of where to explore when in Iqaluit! Heading up there again next week and now plan to check out the path To Apex (weather permitting!). Thanks for the info and keep blogging!

Melissa said...

Melody and Nathan, I am so thrilled that my blogs have been of use to you both. It means so much to me that you've taken the time to read. Qujaanamik