My very first visit to Malta was in October 2011, so this week marks the 13th anniversary—or my Malta-versary as I’m calling it!
Isn’t it funny looking back amd seeing how a single decision shaped the path your life took?
Well, allow me to take you back to October 2011.
Back then, reels, threads, and grids weren’t a thing, which is probably why I heard so little about Malta. But why I got to discover the island myself…
Still, I recall feeling burnt out and fragile. All my close friends seemed to be settling down, having babies, or both. Time seemed to be ticking by, and even though I felt like I should be doing “something,” I just wasn’t sure what that something was.
So, I threw myself at the mercy of Google to escape. Summer in London that year could hardly qualify as one, so when I typed in, ‘Where’s still hot in Europe in October?’ I did a silly happy dance when it came back with high-20-degree Malta.
But I’ll admit, I had no idea where this Malta place was. No bother, though—Google helped with that too!
Anyway, I decided to just go with it and hopped on a plane. And you know what? It was love at first sight, as cheesy as that might sound. Some might argue Malta lacks the glitz and glamour of other Mediterranean islands. But I’d argue back that maybe that was the appeal. I mean, it wasn’t overrun with tourists, which gave me a secretish sanctuary. Of course, it was much, much slower then—just the right pace to give myself a bit of grace and a healthy amount of distance between my voice and all the others asking, why, what, when.
I still remember my first visit. It was just me, the sun, and the beach. Malta became the place where I danced to the beat of my own drum. I didn’t know anyone at the time, so there weren’t any expectations.
By the following year, I had gotten to know Malta intimately. When I wasn’t sightseeing or chilling on the beach, I was hiking the islands like I was on my own on-the-road-to-Damascus. Within a year, I had ended my relationship and found a new job. I read interesting books on things like boundaries and mindfulness and discovered I much preferred the outdoors.
Now, Malta and I are like an old married couple—comfortable, familiar, and still full of love. Of course, like any long-term relationship, there are little quirks and things that get on my nerves, buuut today isn’t about those. Today, I’m celebrating the joy, sunshine, and all the beautiful memories, that remind me why this island became my happy place all those years ago.
I can’t believe it’s been 13 years. And just so we are clear, I still don’t have everything figured out, but does anyone?
Besides, I’ve decided you need to leave a bit of space for uncertainty because that’s where all the best adventures and life lessons happen.
But all the little snippets you get retracing your steps are to remind you just how far you’ve come ✨️
Do you have a happy place?