- H O M E - It was a bittersweet trip back to Sydney. My mum had a heart attack which prompted my urgent trip back. She ended up have a coronary bypass a few days after I landed. I'm back in the UK now, in a new place in Manchester. - THINGS I LEARNT - 1) How to be a full time carer to someone that can't wash/dress/cook/clean for themselves. 2) Pain is relative. Both emotional and physical. 3) Time is relative. 4) The good and the bad can exist at the same time. 5) Your parents will look way older if you haven't seen them in years. (I don't know why I was shocked to see them age) 6) Parents can also be fragile - seeing the strong, single mother that raised you unconscious with tubes coming out from everywhere is incredibly difficult to comprehend. 7) Family relationships are complex. 8) Resentment can arrive when I feel vulnerable. 9) Romantic relationships always need work even when you're exhausted. 10) It is necessary to find your happy place at tough times. 11) Families can surprise you with their own personal growth. 12) Patience and Compassion can be a tested. 13) Home can be more than 1 physical place. 14) Acknowledge your own triggers and truma - It was an opportunity to use all the tools from therapy. 15) Practicing gratitude is so damn powerful - there were many moments where I had to remind myself of all the things that I do have, instead of the things I don't. 16) Guilt and shame are often misunderstood by the older Asian generation - yes I was asked almost everyday if I was married or had children or will be moving back to look after mum. I didn't want to punish myself for not living in Australia to help look after my mum over the last 7 years. I'm working on not feeling guilty for my absence. 17) There is no rule book for learning. 18) Life is a melting pot of experiences. Not one emotion exists at any one time without another about to take it's place as the overriding emotion. The flavour of life is constantly changing. 19) You have to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, before helping anyone else. [CONTINUED IN COMMENTS]