#166 - The Unknown Feels Less Scary Now: Abi Jones On 6 Months That Changed Everything

Abi Jones joins Ben Sheppard on The RunThrough Podcast to share her journey from the UK to Sydney and the life lessons she learned along the way.

What began as a move in search of independence quickly became a crash course in resilience. Abi opens up about arriving in Australia and unexpectedly finding herself homeless on day one, navigating long distance relationships, dealing with loneliness and learning to build a life completely from scratch.

Alongside her work as a physiotherapist, Abi talks about growing a social media following by sharing the realities of her life, from moving abroad and adult acne to fitness, rehab and running. She reflects on how running became a huge part of her identity and why stepping outside her comfort zone has changed her outlook on life.

Now preparing to move back to the UK, Abi looks back on six transformative months in Australia, the friendships she's made, the challenges she's overcome and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is take the leap, even when you don't know where you'll land!

Run With Us In Australia - https://runthroughaustralia.com/

Abi Jones - https://www.instagram.com/absjfit/

Ben Sheppard - https://www.instagram.com/bensheppard93/

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome back to the Run Through Podcast. It is Ben Shepherd here. And after an Australian-related episode last week, we're going again this week from Melbourne to Sydney and Abby Jones. At the start of the year, Abby was on the search for independence, something that quickly became a crash course in resilience. In this conversation, Abby opens up about navigating long-distance relationships, dealing with loneliness, and learning to build a life completely from scratch in a new country. Alongside her work as a physiotherapist, Abby talks about growing a social media following by sharing the realities of her life from moving abroad, an adult acne to fitness, rehab, and running. She reflects on how running has become a huge part of her identity and why stepping outside of her comfort zone has changed her outlook on life. Now preparing to move back to the UK, Abby looks back at the transformative six months that she has spent in Australia, the friendships she's made, the challenges she's overcome, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is take the leap, even when you don't really know where you're gonna land. Abby is actually gonna be joining us before coming back to the UK in our Sydney debut as well at the Olympic Park on the 19th of July. The entry link is in the description of this podcast. Abby Jones is on the Run Through podcast.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

A quote that I saw about a year ago really inspired me. It's that you can't add days to your life, but you can add life to your days. And I think that's something I've really stuck by for the last year. Sometimes it's really easy to see the lessons that you learn as a negative thing. Everything that happens to you happens for a reason, too. Don't focus on the negatives, focus on the journey as a whole. I need to do something to challenge myself more with this. So that's when I was like, right, let's do a half marathon. I'm gonna push myself, put myself out of my comfort zone. And it was just like a really wholesome, lovely experience. And that's when I kind of was like, oh, I really do like running. Hi, I'm Abby. I'm from the UK. I've always sort of been based down south. Uh back in January this year, I moved to Sydney, uh, where I've been doing physiotherapy alongside community management and also content creation on the side, which is a bit of a new thing for me.

SPEAKER_00 2:10

Let's talk about in the first instance, um that move to Sydney then, that sort of time in January, because I think that's a lot of what a lot of people, a lot of people have that kind of moment in their life where they think, you know what, I want change, I want to kind of up sticks and and go somewhere else. Um talk to me about that, because it's a big decision to move your to move your life to the other side of the world when you've been brought up in the UK and have lived in this country your whole life. How was that decision made? And why, in the first instance, decide that, you know, that is something you wanted to try and do.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

Yeah, definitely. So it all started about two years ago. Um, I went solo traveling for three months and I had the best time of my life. However, I really struggled with not having a routine. So it was just then I just decided, you know what, I want to go live somewhere for a period of time, have my routine, and kind of just try and settle into a different lifestyle and see how it goes. Um, I think I was kind of at the time just looking for the next thing and trying to sort of just think what's a good goal, what's a good um sort of challenge for me. Um, and I think one thing I've always struggled with is kind of independence. Um, I was in quite like a dependent stage of my life, you could say, kind of two years ago. So the first step was that independent trip, the solo trip. And then I was like, right, this is the next independence step, like the the massive thing that I can do. Um, however, obviously I I planned this for kind of the last two years, it's been a long time coming. Uh, and then I met my current boyfriend, which um I was kind of like, oh, that throws a spanner in the works. However, he was really supportive and was kind of like, you know, you go do you something you've said you're gonna do. So that's sort of where it where it led to and where I am now. Um, and yeah, it was kind of just like a yeah, I guess a next step, a good challenge. I think everyone should always have a challenge in their life that's not always gonna be easy. And you know, you can either just kind of plod through life and just, you know, get on with it, take things as they come, or you can just throw yourself in the deep end, move countries, um, and just see what happens. So I think that's kind of where I ended up and what I've done. And I've got to say, like the last six months has been an absolute roller coaster, like it's been insane. I've had so many highs, but I'd probably say I've also had so many lows, which I didn't really consider and think about. Um, and yeah, I guess it's like something that comes hand in hand with moving countries, being in a different time zone to all your family and friends, um, as well as trying to make new friends, as well as holding a job and all that kind of stuff and staying active and training for you know half marathons, and it can be quite overwhelming, which is something I never really considered. Um, but yeah, that's kind of how I ended up doing it.

SPEAKER_00 5:01

It's it's it's like when when you decide to do something like this, like obviously on the outside, it's uh it's uh I'm picking up and I'm going to this place. But when you look under the surface, there's it's every element of your life, isn't it? That kind of has to change. So that initial thought of, you know what, I'm going to do this is sometimes the easiest one. And then the rest of it's like, oh my god, I need to sort the weeds almost. I need to get into every facet of my life. Did you do you think you underestimated how much it was going to be different to your current life in the UK?

SPEAKER_01 5:43

A hundred percent. I mean, I'd never even stepped foot in Australia before. This was my first time coming here, which I think was even more of a shock to the system because it is really similar to the UK in so many aspects. Um, I'd say like the best part about it that drew me in was the weather. And I was like, oh, it's gonna be sunny every day, I'm gonna be on the beach every day. When actually, in reality, that's not not true, and I didn't realise I was kind of coming at the end of their summer. Um, but yeah, I'd probably say on surface level, you see everyone's Instagrams, TikToks, and you think, wow, like that's the life I want to live. But it is very different in reality, and I think it's I just hadn't considered that everyone sort of shows the highlights, no one shows the lows. Um, same with, you know, if you're living in the UK, like you only really show the highs and not the lows, and it's just something that just didn't even enter my mind because you always hear people go, Oh, you know, Australia's amazing and all this, and it is, but they never talk about the lows. Um, and that's actually one thing from my whole experience. Like I've tried to be really transparent online and kind of say, you know, it's a bit hit or miss. And a lot of people have taken it as, oh, Abby's having a rubbish time and it's not that at all. I think it's just I'm really trying to show that it's not just, you know, this sort of upwards curve of it's amazing. It's very much kind of a wiggly line of, you know, it's gonna be good, bad, good, bad. And I think more people should be aware of that before they uproot their whole life and and make the decision.

SPEAKER_00 7:11

I think that's like life in general, isn't it? And it's probably just exacerbated because there's this massive, you know, this massive decision that you've made to do this thing and and to go abroad and to move away from your family. You mentioned um you mentioned independence before, which is quite an interesting thing to to touch on. And you said, you know, you felt like you maybe didn't have that independence as much in your life, so you kind of almost forced yourself to to have some independence. What why did you decide, you know what, like I feel like I haven't quite got as much as I need here in that sort of space? And what what were the like stepping stones to then becoming a little bit more independent, I guess?

SPEAKER_01 7:54

Yeah, so like obviously with the whole kind of when it all started when I was doing my solo traveling, I just sort of been freshly out of a relationship and I thought, right, I need to do something for myself because I need something to work towards to better myself, really, as a person. And a skill that I felt like I was lacking was my independence. You know, I've got confidence, I've got all these other things, but independence was one that I kind of identified as I hate being alone, I hate kind of you know, going out for dinner by myself, like that terrified me. So that was the first kind of stepping stone was right, let's solo travel for three months, see how it goes. And obviously I loved it, but I wanted the routine, the you know, more independence. So I thought, yeah, next stepping stone, let's go to Australia. Let's, you know, it's a similar place, they speak the same language, um, you know, like similar kind of culture to what I was looking for. Because, you know, like at home I'd be getting up early, going to the gym before my NHS shift, and then you know, going to Brun Club afterwards. So I was very like active, and everyone would tell me, Oh, you should move to Australia, like you'd love it over there. And I think, you know, you listen to that, and then you're kind of like, okay, yeah, definitely that is the right path that I want to go down. And I think it wasn't even until I was actually on the flight that I kind of considered, oh, this is actually quite a big thing I'm doing. Like it just didn't click. Um, just because I was so like caught up in the oh, I'm moving country, this is so exciting. Um, and yeah, so that was the kind of like lead up to it. And then once I actually stepped foot in the country, I had like a house organized and all of that. So I was very organized before I came out here, but I didn't have a job lined up, which is always a bit scary going into the unknown. But I was also like, this is such a good, like kind of life lesson, you know, with the financial side of things and you know, budgeting, all that kind of stuff. So I was like, that's more independence than I'd get being at home. Uh but I'd set this house up and I was a bit like, oh, like, you know, this is great. Went to the house to view it the day I stepped foot in Sydney, and it wasn't what I thought it was. And immediately I was like, I can't take this room, I can't live here. Um, so I had to turn around and make the first adult decision, being like, oh, sorry, I can't live here. Um, and I basically made myself homeless on the first day being in Sydney. So obviously that's a massive kind of like, oh, and then I couldn't phone my parents, I couldn't, you know, because it was different time zones, they were asleep, and I was just like, what do I do? Like I never felt so alone in my life. But actually, like I had made friends and stuff already. So luckily, my friends completely sorted me out. Um, and I managed to get a house, so I wasn't homeless. Um, but I think that was kind of that was the first instance where I was like, oh, I actually am alone, and I actually am having to be independent with all of this, and it's actually a lot harder than I thought it was gonna be. Um, so yeah, it's kind of how that panned out in the end.

SPEAKER_00 10:45

How is how has project independence gone then? Do you think from like from where you're sitting up, where you're sitting now? And obviously, but we'll get on to kind of um the the next stage of of your life uh from Australia to where you're heading next, but uh down the line in this conversation. But yeah, how how sitting where you are now? Do you feel like if you had looked back on the last X amount of time of your life to that girl that decided, you know what, I need to go solo traveling and have a bit of independence. Do you think that whole project has put you where um put you where you want to be right now?

SPEAKER_01 11:18

Completely like I I wouldn't have had any of these opportunities had I not just sought out this independence. And I think it was like a passion. I was like, I'm going to do this and I'm going to achieve this. Um, and yeah, I I wouldn't be where I am now at all. I'm a completely different girl, you could say. But I think it's interesting. Like when you look back, it's just I don't even know who that person is anymore. Like I was so oh, just completely different, and I'm so glad that I took the step to to do all these things. And even though, you know, some things aren't as you expect, I think it still speaks volumes that you've done it and you've tried it. Because I think I don't think I could live with that. What if I what if I hadn't have, you know, what if I hadn't have done it, and then been like, oh, what would it have been like had I, you know, so it's kind of goes both ways.

SPEAKER_00 12:08

It's taking that step, isn't it, into the unknown, which is obviously the scariest part at that like in general, that sort of taking the step into a new job, a new relationship, and you in your in your instance, country, like that thing is that thing is is scary, but normally I guess the biggest growth comes out of those hard moments in your life where you do decide to do that thing. And actually, in the in the start of of that that sort of passage that we were chatting about, that independence piece, you said the you said I wanted to challenge myself, and I think sometimes people think of like if if you say those words like I want to challenge myself, people are gonna think about like I'm gonna run a marathon, or I'm gonna run a half marathon, or I'm gonna run a 10K, or I'm gonna do a triathlon, or I'm gonna do uh an open water swim. They don't think like challenging themselves by changing part of their personality and lifestyle. And that's that's quite a cool way of thinking about it. Like you can build on every facet of your life, can't you, by just sort of stepping out of the box and going, like, do you know what? I am gonna book my first solo holiday and go away and do this thing because I know that is gonna be difficult and make me kind of grow. Does that make sense?

SPEAKER_01 13:23

Yeah, no, definitely. I think, yeah, the amount of growth you get from these opportunities, whereas if you hadn't done them, you just you wouldn't, you you'd always think, Oh, I wish I'd done that. And I think it's such a good life lesson because even though like it doesn't directly correlate, things like you know taking different opportunities, like for example, this podcast. I I'd never have done this podcast, you know, two years ago. I'd have been too scared. I'd have been like, no. You just take you just take the opportunities as they come and accept those challenges and just kind of have to learn to roll with it rather than being scared of them.

SPEAKER_00 13:58

I think that's the most important thing as well. It's like it's rolling with it, isn't it? It's being like, say yes, go with it, and then grow on the other side. Um you mentioned your boyfriend. I presume he's still back in the back in the UK, right? So that is that is a hell of a uh thing to go through at the start of a relationship, like early doors. What has that been like for that sort of six-month stretch? That's got to be very difficult because it's not just it's not just like a relationship that you've had for a long time that you're trying to kind of stay on top of. Like you're always going to stay on top of those family relationships in in in some facet, but you're building a relationship and trying to stay on top of that from a time zone perspective. That must have been quite difficult.

SPEAKER_01 14:45

It's been it's been like an interesting challenge again, though. Um, so I was very lucky, and he came out and visited me, I think, just over two months in, and I think that was quite a good kind of point where I was really having like the time of my life, and we were both experiencing it together, and we did a bit of travelling together, and it was so lovely. Um, and then I think it's been like a it'll be a four-month or five month stint until I see him in August. So, yeah, I'd probably say it's been definitely like I think you have to work on communication skills, and that's the same with you know, anyone that you're trying to communicate with at home. Um, and that's been like a really good lesson as well. Um, but I think on the whole, like it's been it's been absolutely fine. I think it's just got to the point where I just actually miss sort of spending time with him, um, and you know, going and doing all these activities, you know, because we'd always go and do stuff in the day and take day trips or holidays, and you kind of miss out on that. And I think it's really easy to kind of look at social media and you see all these other people, especially like friends that I've got in Sydney as well. I see them out with their boyfriends or partners, and sometimes you can be a bit like you know, I wish I was doing that, but I know it's just gonna be worth it in the end. Um, when I go home, I think like it'll just be so worth it. And yeah, I think if we can tackle this, we can kind of tackle anything in that sense because that communication is a skill that you learn, um, and it's been working well, so onwards enough.

SPEAKER_00 16:15

No, I hadn't I hadn't really thought about that communication element and like the fact that there is going to be, you know, I know I mentioned like having to try and nurture that relationship on a different time zone, but the word communication obviously is something that's thrown around a relationship a lot, like, and it is hugely important from friendships or like romantic relationships. And yeah, I guess I guess that is something you really have to be quite focused with, isn't it? When when you are on different time zones. So like, as you say, maybe this is gonna be maybe this is one of the the most um like the strongest building blocks you could have put in place in the first instance um for the future, because it's like you can't you can't neglect it, can you? And I'm sure that it's something that's like literally on the front of your minds the whole time.

SPEAKER_01 17:02

No, definitely. I think yeah, if you don't have the communication there, then you're not gonna be able to move forward and get through things. And I think, you know, even though we've I think we've almost been together a year now, but it's still so early into the relationship that it was a bit like, oh, like I don't know what's gonna happen when we go away because this is all new, and you know, we're still learning things about each other and our communication style when we're like with each other. Um, so I think it just adds another layer on top of it. And if you can get through that, then you can get through anything because you learn how to deal with the situations, which obviously it's hard, like you know, obviously, everyone does have kind of fallouts and everything with people, but it's kind of how you deal with them and how you talk, especially when you know you're not gonna see them for that kind of four or five month stint. Um, that's the hard part. But he's been amazing, so I really can't complain. Like it's been a really great, kind of great experience with the long distance. Um, and I know not everyone's so lucky, but I think communication would be my biggest tip for anyone going through it. Just, you know, really work on that, find kind of what works for the two of you because it's going to be different for other people. Um, and make sure you just make time for each other as well. Because I think, like, you know, you'd normally go on like a date night or something like that. So it's really nice to kind of replicate that, even though it's a bit different, because you know, one of you is having breakfast, one of you's having dinner. Um, you can kind of replicate it and it it does work.

SPEAKER_00 18:33

Yeah, and I think that's that's that's such a that's such an interesting point, actually, like talking about the long distance part of of the relationship and how you know how that is, you know, that's something that you have to you have to work on as well, isn't it? Like that's something that you have to maintain consistency with and you have to make sure that you're um you are you are across not only the communication but the kind of the nurturing of the relationship in general because if you're not then it's I think probably what long distance does, right, is it makes it easier for things to slide. So it's probably just having more focus on parts of the relationship than you would in person. Um let's talk about the the job part because you said like you go to Sydney, you don't have a job, um, you're a physio, you're a physio in the UK, and obviously you are now in Sydney as well. How that is a scary thing, right? You'll go in there with with no job, you're going there with kind of I guess that means no um solid foundation moving forward. What was the process of of sorting yourself out with a job in Sydney and why physio in general?

SPEAKER_01 19:44

Yeah, so obviously um starting like with why physios in general, um, so that all kind of stemmed from me in COVID, actually. I was a therapy assistant in the hospital, um, and I knew I kind of wanted to be a physio because I'd sort of grown up going to physio for like various swimming injuries that I had, and then my mum ruptured her ACL, so then I followed her with her rehab journey, and I just found it really fascinating thinking these people can do really cool things, and I want to be able to do that and help people like this. Um, so I yeah, that's when I decided let's be a therapy assistant for a year, and then that's when COVID hit. So I was actually redeployed to ICU during COVID. Um, so a little 19-year-old me was kind of dealing with all of that. Um, but I really enjoyed the healthcare sort of setting, helping people, um, being part of like a big team, I really enjoyed. Um, so yeah, then obviously I went to uni, studied physio, and then got a job down in Bournemouth and did that for two and a half years. And then kind of going from that steady NHS wage, you know, every month, you know, you got your set hours and everything, to then nothing was absolutely terrifying because it's something like, oh my goodness, like I'm I'm floating around, I don't know what I'm doing. So luckily, I did have a friend in Sydney who kind of sorted me out with a job in a way. He kind of, you know, um put my name forward and I sent my CV and stuff over, and I managed to get the job. However, kind of like a month to two months in, it just wasn't the right fit for what I was looking for at the time, kind of with like hours and stuff. Um, because you are sold this like Australian dream, and I think you get told, oh, you're gonna be working, you know, half days going to the beach and all this. And in my case, for that first time, it just wasn't that. And I was working sort of Monday to Saturday, and I didn't want to do that. So then I came across, well, actually, I've been in contact with this other guy uh via Instagram from like December 2025 until March. And I just happened to reach out saying, Hey, like, do you know of any jobs going? And he was actually like, Yeah, we've got a job going at Proform, which is where I work doing physio. Um, and then he actually also hired me to be the community operations manager for his business coaching program, um, which is kind of called like practice of one and it Basically links in with physio because it coaches like allied health founders how to become practice owners and like kind of grow their businesses. Um, so I was like, well, obviously that's right up my street because you know, one day I'd love to own a business, and you know, so I get to kind of work with these founders and they're all so inspiring. Um, and yeah, so I do that kind of part-time alongside the physio, and then also alongside the content creation, which is a little bit intense. Um, but it's been really great. I'm working in like a CrossFit gym at the moment, which is something that I've not done before. Um, and I get to treat them all, and they're all such a lovely bunch, and made some really great kind of friendships through it as well, which is really great.

SPEAKER_00 22:42

That that helping people part of it, and and we've had a lot of physios on here over the years, and that's something that always comes up, right? Because um, I think it's it's paramount that a lot of people use physical exercise and whatever that is, whether it's running or crossfit or swimming or whatever your sport is to help them in their everyday pursuit of life, if you will. And sometimes when that is taken away, obviously it can be quite difficult. So, as a physio trying to get that back for people, that must be quite rewarding. And seeing people like taking steps on their journey also must be quite a cool thing to see. Is that something that you I'm sure saw early doors, but working on an everyday basis in this space, do you continue to see that? Like, does it ever wane, or is it something that's always like pretty amazing to have?

SPEAKER_01 23:35

It's like there's no better feeling than when you know someone walks in and they go, I'm actually back horse riding, or you know, I've I've returned to swimming and I've actually improved my time by this. And it's just like you're they're breaking these goals and you know, they're achieving what they wanted to achieve when they stepped in to see you. And it kind of just gives you that satisfaction of I've actually made a difference, and they appreciate kind of how I've helped them, and they're gonna kind of take that forward with them. And I think it's just yeah, it's a very rewarding space to be in. Um, obviously, you do also have the kind of, I mean, back in my NHS days, you also have the other side of physio, which is a little bit different, um, which isn't a side of physio, kind of like respiratory physio, isn't a side of physio that I personally enjoy. I'm much more that kind of musculoskeletal. However, with the respiratory physio, you know, you actually are saving people's lives. And that's also a very rewarding feeling. Um, though it can be quite heavy and sad, it is yeah, very rewarding. But yeah, no, it's it's an interesting, interesting space. If you ever get a chance to kind of shadow a physio for a day, it's quite interesting with the um kind of the process of how everything works and you know how long rehab can actually take. Um, because I think some people kind of think, oh, I'll just go for like a couple weeks and you know the problem will get fixed. But actually, it's a real kind of journey. And you know, you can have six months of rehab sometimes and start making very slow progress from there. So it's yeah, it's a very interesting thing.

SPEAKER_00 25:05

People think, oh, I'm gonna go and I'm gonna get it fixed straight away. And I think, look, I've I've I'm gonna be honest, like, I've definitely been that person. Like, I think we all have like people that because because I think what it is is you just want to get it back straight away, don't you? And I I'm sure the question you get, or particularly from runners, is probably like, oh, can I run again next week? Oh, can I run again next week? Or can I like and it's like, well, no, like we need to take these steps to get to a place where actually you're going to be able to run consistently. It's like that short-term, long-term piece, right? Um do you see that a lot? Do you see people like trying to to force the enveloper maybe and maybe not take the steps to get back to a place that they they need to get to before they start whatever that sport is again? And and I guess how do you how do you try and mitigate against that when somebody is like, I want to do this now?

SPEAKER_01 26:01

I think quite often I say they'll say to me, you know, can I run next week? And I'll say, Well, actually, no, you still got pain when you're walking. I'll kind of list everything out to them. And then quite often they'll come back to me and be like, Oh, but I really want to. And it's like, okay, well, if you want to, that's fine. But you need to understand if you do that, you're taking 10 steps back. And I think as a physio, quite often we just try to kind of control everything. And if you control an aspect, well, that aspect of someone's life, they're not gonna like you and they're not gonna build that rapport with you. And I think the biggest way that I kind of, well, how I like to work is sort of build it with them and say, look, well, this is gonna happen if you do that, you know, list it all out, make sure they're happy with that, and then you just kind of give it back to them, and they can either choose to follow your advice or they won't. If they don't, then obviously they're gonna have a flare-off and they're gonna come back and you're gonna go, well, look what you did, kind of thing. And then you can start again and build together. But then that way they've kind of they take your advice on a bit better then if you've done it that way, because then they're like, Oh, actually, okay, I need to take a step back from this because you know, I want to get better, I want to get to the end goal. Um, some people, you know, some people do miraculously recover, and you can't explain it, you know. They'll they'll come, they'll come for like a month or something, and then they're gone and they're fine and they just crack on. My dad's one of those for sure. Um, but yeah, it's it's interesting. But I think the biggest thing with physio, you know, you could have the world's best physio, but if you don't build the rapport with the person and you know, get your communication again, if it's not up to scratch and the person doesn't feel that kind of connection to you, sort of human to human, and they feel like they're just another number on a spreadsheet, they're not gonna progress and they're not gonna get the results that you know they you both want. Um, so yeah, it's kind of like a yeah, give or take.

SPEAKER_00 27:57

You kind of Yeah, I was gonna I literally was about to say a give and take, isn't it? Like it is it is down to the patient, but it's also down to the person that is implementing that treatment in the in the way that you're saying there. Like, and I've never really thought about that communication element of being a physio. I feel like communication is the buzzword of this conversation, right? It really is. Communication is key. There you go. That's literally what I'm about to say. Yeah, communication is a hundred percent the key to the vast majority of things, to be honest, because like so many problems come up because communication isn't there, so um, yeah, I think it's it's easy to look back when you're like having a conversation about it and like zoom out and and realize that's the case. But I think having that in like people's thought patterns in an everyday facet is probably not a bad thing to to to kind of push. Um, because actually, if you actually think about the communication when you're in the moment of the communication needing to happen, it's probably gonna happen better. Um, exactly. Yeah, if that makes sense. In terms of in terms of you as yourself, then because I always like to ask physios this like, are you a good patient? Would you listen to your own advice? Like, you said all this, these things about you know, uh how sometimes uh people might try in or want to rush back in, and it's those, it's that communication around like maybe trying them to hold them back. If you're injured, if if Abby's got a you know bad knee, what are you doing? Are you listening?

SPEAKER_01 29:27

I will listen to an extent. No, I mean to be fair, I had like a pretty bad injury when I started running last year. I'm pretty sure I had a stress fracture or a bone stress injury. I I got to that point where it was, you know, night pain, it was really bad, it wasn't good. And I did completely stop running. I focused on weight training, I focused on swimming, cross like cycling, cross-training. I did all of that for a good two months and I did make a full recovery. Um, so in that sense, when it got serious, I was like, right, okay, I do need to take a step back. Um, but then I did have quite a severe ankle sprain at the start of this year from running, and I probably didn't rehab it as much as I should have. I did kind of like the odd rehab session here and there, but I just really lost all my motivation. And I think that's one thing. When you're the physio and you're rehabbing yourself, you don't have someone there telling you, kind of like motivating you. And I think as a physio, that's a big job as well that we have is to motivate the person and you know, make it fun for them, check in with them. When when you're doing it to yourself, you don't really get that. You just kind of you're like, right, I have to do this today, got to do this, and it's not as fun as it could be.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

Yeah, I guess because you're doing, you're doing it's working within your work as well, isn't it? So it's like you're constantly working because you're having to work on yourself, and then you go into work and you're working on other people, and you're like, oh my god, I'm never not working. Like, I just want to go for a run.

SPEAKER_01 30:58

Yeah, and then sometimes, you know, when I was at home, I'd come home and my mum would be like, Oh, can you look at this for me? or then you're saying, never stop, you never stop.

SPEAKER_00 31:08

Just let me just go to sleep and you're just dreaming of, I don't know, people's knees. I've done that before. Yeah, I bet you have. I it must be we it must be weird, and it must be it must be really hard to switch off because if you've got a problem with a client and you're like, you know, you're trying to work out kind of what you think is the best course of treatment or what the injury is or what you can do to help, like that must bleed into your everyday life as well. And that probably is quite difficult to switch off, I'd imagine.

SPEAKER_01 31:40

You know, when I'm walking down the street, I'm watching people and how what their gait's like when they're walking. I'm like, oh, it's got a bit of an antalgic gate. What's going on with them? You never stop.

SPEAKER_00 31:50

Yeah, I can imagine. I can imagine. Um, we've got our first Australian races this year, which is very exciting. Um, and yeah, you're actually coming to join us for the Sydney Olympic Park date on the on the 19th of July. So as we're recording this conversation, under a month now, until that date, until Run Through comes to Australia. Um excited. And it's really exciting that you're coming to join us. Like that's super exciting because the community in Australia, and I think this is probably something you've seen, right, from a sporting perspective, is so incredible. And we're looking to looking to move into that, and we're very excited to do that. How are you feeling about that race? And yeah, we're really excited to have you, I guess, Avi.

SPEAKER_01 32:25

Oh, thank you for having me with it. I'm honestly, I'm so excited. I've never done a 10K race before. Um, the furthest I've run, obviously, is a half marathon, but that's the only race I've done. So it's gonna be a whole new experience for me. Um, I'm excited to see what the crowd's like because I did the Sydney half marathon back in, or when was it? April, May. Um, and the crowds were huge for that. It was insane. Um, really good support. It was kind of like it wasn't quite London marathon vibes, but it was no not too bad. But yeah, it'd be interesting to see how this compares. And I have heard it's a pretty flat route, which is something I'm excited for because I religiously walk up hills. I I don't really excited for that.

SPEAKER_00 33:10

When did running first come into your life then? Well, when was that something that you first decided to stick a pair of trainers on and get out the door?

SPEAKER_01 33:17

Well, I actually used to run when I was young and I used to do cross-country running. Um, however, I then started swimming more, so I sort of veered away from the running, and then I probably stopped running completely until I went to uni, I think.

SPEAKER_03 33:32

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

And then I did the odd kind of run here and there, and then stopped again, and I was more focusing on kind of like gym aesthetics, um, all that kind of stuff. And then it wasn't until last March or April I started I went on Accutane because I had a really bad acne. Um, and I more used the running to kind of feel good because I was so fed up of kind of trying to train for aesthetics because I think it makes you just want to look perfect and look a certain way. And that's when I veered away from that. And I was like, no, I actually want to feel good. And I was like, well, running is good for your cardiovascular system. I probably should be able to run if I'm a you know, everyone should be able to run really. Um, so let's try it and see where we get with it. So I was like, right, we'll start this. Started a plan. Um, it was going really well, and I was starting to feel better, you know. I was coming off the Accutane, it was like all good. And then I was like, right, I need to book something, I need to do something to challenge myself more with this. So that's when I was like, right, let's do a half marathon because it was something that I'd always kind of heard people say, oh, I'm gonna do this. And I was always like, oh, like good luck, like I I couldn't do that. Um, but I was like, you know what? No, I'm actually gonna do that. I'm gonna push myself, put myself out of my comfort zone, and just sign up for it. So I did my first half marathon last October, and I absolutely loved it. It was like such a good experience. Um, lots of my friends were also racing it, so it was really lovely. Although they they're all quick runners, like I'm not a quick runner. Um, and it was just like a really wholesome, lovely experience, and that's when I kind of was like, Oh, I really do like running now. Um, but obviously I had got injured in the kind of lead up to that half marathon, so that kind of set me back with my training. Um, and then after that, I was like, right, I need to do something else now. Like, I don't know, don't know what's next. That's when I was like, oh, Sydney half marathon. I'm gonna be in Sydney, it'll be quite a cool experience. So I did it again. I didn't realise the elevation of the Sydney half marathon. It is horrible. There's I think there's about 10 hills, and you get to like 18k and there's another hill, and you're like, Are you actually being serious? But um, the views, the views are incredible, and I won't forget that for a long time. Um, but yeah, that was kind of like where the running sort of started, and it's still going now. Um, I would like to do the London marathon. I think that's the next kind of big thing that I'd like to do that I never thought I would say. Um, but I've caught the running bug, well and truly. So um maybe I'll get lucky.

SPEAKER_00 36:02

You made a really interesting reel, actually, that that is um out on the on the run through socials as well when you were saying, like, you know, last a year ago, if you had said about, you know, going to run all these races and do all these things and have all these goals and go into a 10k race um like you're doing with us in in Sydney on the 19th, you would have probably thought, you know, that seems like a different girl. Like that that's not the case. I would never want to do that. It's strange, isn't it, when you think that you know you can't do something when you actually do start doing it. It's like that that constant proof to yourself that that you can. And yeah, looking back at that girl of a year ago who thought she couldn't do those things, and now sitting here with me having this conversation saying, you know what, I kind of fancy the London marathon. How does that how does that feel to you when you reflect back to the on that?

SPEAKER_01 36:51

Oh, honestly, crazy. Like crazy. I'm like, what have you done with that girl? Where's she gone? Um, but I do know like it a lot of hard work's gone into it, and I think I've had to work so much on that motivation to kind of just get it done, even if I don't want to, but I think that kind of reflects into all aspects of life. Like I'm, you know, just get it done, even if you don't want to, just go and get it done. Um, and I think I'm very proud of myself for that because I think it's a good to have like a good work ethic, um, and that should reflect into your life as well, that kind of work ethic. Um, so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:27

You've you've learned a hell of a lot of lessons over the last six months, haven't you? You can tell that, like from pick from picking up life and and completely moving everything out to like a completely different country. You're you're learning, but you're learning on a scale that not many people are learning because there's just so much coming at you all the time. Do you feel like the lessons that you've learned within the last sort of six to eight months, I guess, are key lessons in life that you will use moving forward for the next 10, 15, 20 years?

SPEAKER_01 38:00

Definitely. I think you know, the unknown doesn't feel as scary to me anymore. Um, because I've learned to just roll with it. Whereas previously I'd be terrified, you know, if I'm coming back to the UK and don't have a job to go to, that's that would have terrified me. But now I'm like, you know what, I'm gonna be fine, I'll fall on my feet, I'll figure it out, it's fine. Um, but I would say the kind of the lessons I I wouldn't change them at all. I'm I'm happy I've experienced them. And I think that's a really good sign that it's it's growth rather than kind of knocking me down. Um, I feel like sometimes it's really easy to see the lessons that you learn as a negative thing. Um, and I definitely kind of like for the first three months, I was like, why have I done this? Why have I moved over here? And everything that was being thrown at me, I was taking it in such a negative mindset because I was literally like, I've done this to myself, like, why have I done this? Um, but actually, when I've taken a step back and done some reflecting on it, and I've kind of thought, no, actually, like I wouldn't be the same girl. I wouldn't have known about this, this, or this if I hadn't have done that. And I think everything happens for a reason. Everything that happens to you happens for a reason, too. And I think we should be grateful that we've experienced it rather than being like, why did that happen to me? You know, be grateful that it did happen so that you've learned from it and it's not gonna happen again, or it's opened more doors for you. Because in this instance, like a lot of doors have opened for me since coming over here, even though you know I might be stressed a lot more, or you know, all these other things are happening. Yeah, it's it's been incredible the the journey rather than you know the negatives. I think, yeah, don't focus on the negatives, focus on the journey as a whole. Um, because if you get fixated on those negatives, it's gonna just make it a bad experience in general. But if you kind of just say, make your peace with the negatives and then look at the positives and look at it as a whole, yeah, you're gonna have such a you're gonna have a better outcome and a better sort of thought about the experience you've had.

SPEAKER_00 40:06

And and like you said, like there's gonna be so much growth that has happened um throughout this like six months' experience. It's gonna be it's gonna be wild. And I'm sure like in 10 years' time, when you do look back at it, like it's gonna be one of the key points of your life where so much changed. And it has been one of the key points of your life where so much has changed because as you say, like you've you've you've changed in so many facets of your life. Uh, another thing that I know has become more prominent is kind of like your your um your presence on social media and building that platform, um and that's something that I know you're gonna continue to push and keep moving forward with. What's that been like as an experience for you to actually see the numbers going up and actually to I guess put pressure on yourself in some facets to make content and share your story and get stuff out there? It must be a bit strange to start with, because it's not a traditional NHS shift job, is it? It's not a no it's it's it's very, very different. And when you're talking about being constantly on, you must be constantly on. So yeah, what has what has been that whole um growth cycle been like um from a social media perspective?

SPEAKER_01 41:21

It's been a very interesting journey. Um I started my account back in April last year when I started this running journey and started Aquitaine and all these other things going on because I just you know wanted to put myself out there and push myself. Um and I was kind of posting like three times a day until I think it was December, and I kind of hit I think it was 3,000 followers in December, which I was really proud of. And then I suddenly had just one exercise video just go completely viral, and I think I gained like I think it was like 2,000 followers or something over a week or something, which was crazy for me because I was like, this is like nothing I've ever seen before, but it was so exciting. So I was like, oh, people are actually like watching what I do, that's kind of scary, but also really cool. Um, and then it just kind of kept on growing, and I think I was sort of I share like a lot of different things. Like I share a lot about Australia and how to move to Australia as a physio, and that was something that people found helpful, so that was quite cool. And I had a lot of people messaging me privately, being like, How do I do this and this and this? And it was really nice to kind of build that community. Um, and then I also was posting more things kind of about the NHS and like physio and the NHS, and a lot of people found it quite interesting, kind of from an insight into what a physio actually does. Um, and then just talking about like rotations and things. And then, yeah, then I started focusing more on the exercise side of things because I find like when I post these videos, a lot of thought goes into them, and I'm actually like researching things myself, and you know, thinking, oh, this is an exercise I've not actually seen before or tried before. Like, let's have a look into it, let's see how it works, let's go try it, try it myself. And I think it helps me kind of have like an outlet in my head, and once I've like filmed it and documented it, it's kind of like an in the exercise library in my head, which is quite nice. Um, and I like to then use them with patients and you know try them out and all that kind of stuff. Um, but the actual like growth side of things is yeah, it's nuts. Like, I I mean I'm still not like big compared to other creators at all. However, I think it's a really nice place to have, like it feels like a little safe space for me, my little corner on the internet, and I just like posting kind of whatever I feel like posting. Um, and I feel like I haven't gone too strict with like a niche as such. I've kind of tried to let the niche choose me. Um, and just posting about my life, about moving here. People seem to be interested. And I think like being quite real about it as well, not just making it out to be like amazing, has been really helpful for a lot. Of people. Um, but also I don't want it to come across like I haven't had a great time, because I have. Um, so maybe I've pushed that a bit too much, being realistic. Um, but yeah, it's been interesting. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:15

I like framing it as a creative space. Like that's cool. Like almost like as you'll say, as you say, like it's kind of putting out what you want to put out in the way you want to put it out, but also it's not it is, I was gonna say it's not just your life, but it kind of is just your life. When what when I say that, what I mean is like you are putting out like um you know, the exercise videos and stuff like that that are very helpful to people, uh, and they're more like educational style, right? In a lot of ways, but I guess that is still part of your life because there is that part of your life, if that makes sense, with obviously your job being a your job being a physio. But I I think just blanket in general, what you see is the people that grow are the people that are honest. And I don't actually think interesting you saying, like maybe I've pushed that side too much, I don't think being honest is ever a bad thing. So it's just being like as honest as possible um in terms of in terms of the accounts that grow, I think you see that you see that the most. And I think that's probably why, you know, to go from zero to what twenty-three, twenty-four thousand in literally just over a year is a bit mad, really.

SPEAKER_01 45:27

It's crazy. It is crazy. It's it's funny though, because I I get a lot of physios coming up to me being like, oh, I actually follow your page, and it's like, oh, this is like really cool. Like, you know. Um and I get a lot of like new grand physios as well, like asking me questions about the NHS and like how to go for interviews. And I think that's just such a it feels quite like I've got a bit of authority about it now, which is kind of crazy to me, because you know, I did not have the confidence for that two years ago. Um, so again, that shows the growth, but um it's it's pretty mental.

SPEAKER_00 46:00

And it's another it's another style of communication, isn't it? To move back to that word again. Like it's just communication. The buzzword. The buzzword, there you go. Um, just a couple more before we before we wrap up, Abby. I wanted to I wanted to mention your your um your skin journey because obviously it's something we've mentioned a couple of times in this conversation and something that you know is quite prevalent on your social and something I've seen as well. Um that's quite a vulnerable thing to put out there because it is such a personal journey that we've had people on on the podcast before that have talked about their own personal skin journeys, and I know how personal it can be for people. So to put something out there in the first instance that is so personal's got to be quite vulnerable. What was that like? Um, kind of sharing that in the first instance, and where are you on that journey now? And how how has how has it changed from sharing that first video to to where you are now?

SPEAKER_01 46:51

I think with the skin, I've always just kind of, you know, it's something I've always been very self-conscious of. I mean, I got acne for the first time in my 20s, like it, which is so ridiculous. Like you wouldn't think you'd get that in your 20s. Um, and I think you have to just be okay with it. And I've always kind of told myself, you know, it's just acne. Like, yes, everyone can see it, but actually there's way worse things that you could have. It's it's not, you know, a massive thing. And I think on social media, we're always kind of presented with these people with clear skin, you know, they're skinny, like all of this stuff that's going on at the moment. And it I think it just it's so refreshing when you see people just being again honest about the state of their skin, not using filters or things like that. And don't get me wrong, there's been times when I've gone to post something and I've been like, oh, I really don't want to post this. But I'm actually like, you know what? No, me posting this is normalizing it, and it might make someone else feel more confident if you know I've posted this. Like, there was a video I wasn't gonna post, I think it was maybe not even two weeks ago, and it actually made me really upset this video because I just felt my skin looked awful and yeah, really kind of devastated me a little bit. And then I was like, no, like this is exposure therapy. You're gonna post this and you're not gonna think about it. No one cares or judges you because of your skin. It's something you can't control, you know, it's it's just life, and you know, you're quite stressed right now, so that's probably why it's so bad because you've moved countries. Um but I think if you're just open and honest, it makes you a bit more approachable to people, and you know, I've had other people come to me being like, Oh, I've got this skin issue going on too, and you can kind of relate to each other a bit better, and I think it's it just makes makes it easier rather than just kind of not addressing the elephant in the room. Um and yeah, I just kind of hope well, I don't know. I just it's a bit different, I guess, from like exercise and things, but the more honest you are about things like this rather than trying to cover it up, I think it will help other people at the end of the day, and that's kind of what I want to do. And I want to promote that acne is not a bad thing. Um, there are worse things you can have, and it I think it's something that shouldn't be kind of uh what's the word, not demonized, that's the wrong word, but it should be honest.

SPEAKER_00 49:14

It's it's almost like hidden, right? People don't talk about it and people try and hide it, and it's it's like it's something important that needs to be talked about, I think, because it is something that a lot of people deal with. Um and also interesting, you say, and and I think this will be very relatable to a lot of people listening right now if they have struggled with with their skin over the years, whether it's acne or something else, you know. You said two weeks ago you you know, you didn't want to post that video because of that, and that shows that like there is that journey that is still very much ongoing, isn't there? Like it's never it's never gonna be to a point where you're like, hey, thumbs up, great, I'm happy all the time. It's like even though you're saying what you're saying there, and you know, you need to talk about and it needs to not be kind of hidden away and and kind of um you know, not spoken about, it's still hard to speak about it.

SPEAKER_01 50:07

Definitely. So yeah, I think that's important. Every time it's that's scary. And I think the biggest frustration I've had with it was, you know, I had this treatment for six months and I was on such a strong dose of Accutane that I don't think people realise like it there are studies that show it can affect your mental health, but also it affects your joints, which is something I didn't even know. So, like last year I was walking up the stairs and my knees were absolutely killing me. And then I went through all of that, got off it, clear skin, it was great. And then I moved to Australia, and the whole like my skin just started breaking out really badly again. And then it was that frustration and trying to deal with that frustration, as well as everything else going on, moving to a new country of this has come back again. But I've tried to be a lot better this time at kind of being a bit more kind to myself about it because I think the first time I was so harsh on myself and very much like, oh, you you've done this wrong, and this is why, and you know, that kind of stuff, and like thinking it was my diet and all that kind of stuff. But this time I've been like, just accept it. It's it is what it is, it's on your face, it's not gonna be there forever. Um, I've gone back on Accutane, and you know, the dermatologists out there here are great, and they put me on a low dose, and it's it's all going smoothly and it's clearing up, it's where it needs to be, and I know it's gonna get better. I know there's an endpoint. So I think, yeah, it's just trying to reframe things with a positive mindset, especially when you haven't got your support system around you, has probably been the best way I've dealt with the move, I think.

SPEAKER_03 51:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 51:41

And the acne. Just reframing it in your mind and trying to just think, okay, well, A, it could be worse. B, I'm gonna get through this because I've been through it before. And C, it's you know, it's not that deep at the end of the day. Like if people care about your acne and they don't want to be friends with you because you've got acne, then you need new friends because that's you know, that's silly.

SPEAKER_00 52:03

Yeah, that's completely mad. But you're so right, like, yeah, remove those remove any relationship that doesn't serve you, and that, you know, if if somebody's saying they don't want to be a friend because you've got acne, that is completely wild. So yeah, they're gone. Um I know you haven't spoken about this publicly yet, but I I know you said it was it was fine for us to mention this. And and you know, we framed this whole conversation about around sort of the move to Australia and the last six months and a load of the stuff that has been in there from a personal perspective that you're gonna grow from. Um, but you have made the decision now to come back to the UK towards the end of this year, and it's obviously a decision you're very excited about because of you know, multiple facets of your life that are gonna change and and move forward from from relationships to to everything else. What how did you come to that decision in the end? And I think you know, you you made the decision to still go. When did you realize this is the right time? I've done what I need to do, I've learned what I need to learn, and it's it's time for me to go home now.

SPEAKER_01 53:05

I think it was probably around month three. I kind of got into my routine and I was kind of thinking, hmm, this is exactly the same as what I was doing at home. And I think the biggest thing for me was my family, friends, and kind of boyfriend weren't here with my routine, and I really felt like something was just missing. Um, and I've made like great friends here, and that's all been amazing. But I think it was just kind of like a, oh, I want to be doing this and experiencing this with my family and friends at my boyfriend at home. Um, more than anything, it was kind of that pull back to them. Um, because they are your support system at the end of the day. And I think it's one thing you don't really consider moving. Well, I didn't really think about was a the time difference, um, and also just being so far away. Like it's a 24-hour flight, but it's it's a 24-hour flight, it's so so long. It takes a while. And I think you know, like every time you FaceTime people, you've missed things, and I just I don't like that. And I think I'm at a point in my life where I just kind of want to settle a little bit more and stop kind of bouncing around as well. Like, I think I'm listening to my body. I think that was the biggest thing potentially. Um, something I probably don't do enough, but you know, my skin flared up. That obviously is a big sign that I think my sort of nervous system was pretty stressed out. Um, and I think it has a lot to do with the kind of move here, taking on all these kind of jobs and not really feeling completely settled. Um, and I'd say as well, like the sort of loneliness factor. Like I've kind of spoken about it a bit, but you are by yourself, like you have your friends and everything, but you are by yourself at the end of the day. And you know, it's it's like small things. Let's say you're not feeling very well, and you know, you need to go do your whole food shop still because there's no one else that can do it for you. I mean, that's such a small thing, but sometimes you just feel a bit vulnerable and you just think it'd be nice to have those people.

SPEAKER_00 55:08

The small things as well often are the things that then you know feel like the biggest, don't they? So I know you said about the food shop then, but actually like that that is like because it's so it would be so small at home and you could have somebody that would help you with that, when you are away and you don't, you're like, oh my god, like it's affecting every part of my life. So how are you feeling about coming home? Are you very excited? Like, um, and I know it's it must be kind of weird, right? Because you're doing this whole thing again. I know you're coming back to you're coming back to where you have been for a long time, but you're still moving every facet of your life um back. So you've kind of gone the one way and now you're coming back the other way. Um, is there nervousness? Is there excitement? Like what are you feeling like in yourself?

SPEAKER_01 55:57

I'm so excited. I feel like I'll be actually able to rest and just chill out a little bit. Um, and I've got like a lot of Europe kind of trips booked in, which is fun. And obviously, I've got the Richmond, oh not Richmond, the um Bath Sea half. No, yeah, Bath Sea half, which I'm doing with my dad with run through as well, which is really fun. Um, and yeah, there's just like lots of things to be excited for to come home, which um is obviously it's the summer as well, whereas here it's winter at the moment, so it's a bit chilly. Um, but I think I'm not nervous because I know what to expect. Whereas coming out here, I didn't know what to expect. So it's a it's a little bit different. I'd say there is that kind of fear of when I get home, am I gonna think, what have I done? Like, should I still be over there? Um, but I think I'm so set in this decision now that I'm like, no, that is the right, the right thing. I really thought over for probably about two months. Um, and then when my mum came and visited me over here, that's when I was like, right, this is this is it, this is what I need, this is what I've decided. Um, but yeah, I'd say getting a job as well, that's another thing. So I'm actually gonna be working remotely for an Australian company, the one that I'm working for now in the UK, which is exciting, something a bit different. Um, but also I'm gonna try and pick up a physio job alongside, which will be good because I really I think that's the thing. Like my skills are physio, and that's what I enjoy doing, and that's not something I want to stop doing. Like, you know, even if I really made it as a content creator, I'd still be doing physio on the side because it's something that I'm really passionate about, and I it just brings me so much like joy, and I can't really explain it, but it's something that I love, so that will that will be sticking. But it's the process of trying to organise that all again.

SPEAKER_03 57:44

Yeah, James.

SPEAKER_01 57:46

Yeah, even get a car. I sold my car, so that's that's buy a car now as well.

SPEAKER_00 57:51

Yeah, there's gonna be a lot. I'm I'm I'm sure the diary is gonna be pretty rammed, Abby, over the next sort of six months, I would imagine. Um which is mad. I think I think this is gonna be a really nice way to wrap this up because you know, we've we've spoken about so many elements of of this move, and then the move home, and then obviously we've touched on the running journey and the physio journey and that being part of your passion, and there's been so much, so much in there as well. And I I I had a look on your Instagram and having a bit of a read about some of some of um some of your story from a load of posts up there, obviously, before this conversation, and the thing that stuck out to me a lot was actually just your your bio. And there were three words in there that said run, lift, and live. Okay, and I think at the moment there is so much focus um on that word live. And I think what you're showing through your whole journey and everything you've done over the past 12 to you know, 12 months to now, the last year, has has focused around live right? You've made decisions that are really affecting your life, but because it's like, well, I'm only here once, kind of thing, I'm gonna live it, I'm gonna go and do that thing. And this next step of your journey is still that because it's like I want to focus around living because I want this next facet of my life to be with my family and with my boyfriend back in the UK. How important is that word to you? That that word live? Like if you could sum up the importance of that, how would you do that?

SPEAKER_01 59:20

So, a quote that I saw about a year ago really inspired me. It's that you can't add days to your life, but you can add life to your days. And I think that's something I've really stuck by for the last year, kind of just trying to make the most out of every situation, every opportunity. And I think it can burn you out to an extent, which I've definitely learned along the way. But again, that's another lesson. Um, but just trying to make the most of every day, cherish the memories, the moments that you have with your family and friends. It's the best thing you can do, and you want to just take take advantage of every opportunity that life throws at you.