Escape to Life – The Authors' Journey

What does it mean to walk forward in life? For some of us walking forward can come in the form of a new stage in life, whether planned or unexpected, wanted or not.

A sudden and unexpected change in our lives can lead to a situation where we must decide if we stay paralyzed by what happened or if we move on with our lives.

If there is one thing that I learned about walking forward in life is that it is a challenging process which can take some time, often painful but provocative. However, it can lead to a positive outcome when we do it for the right reasons, having created the correct circumstances for it to happen.

It requires leaving behind not just the negative things in one’s life but sometimes it means having to leave behind what we like, enjoy, are comfortable with or think we can’t live without.

At times it involves leaving behind loved ones or being left behind by a loved one.

If you already read “Escape to Life. From Syria to Safety”, and of course watched the news over the last few years, you know about the millions who walked across many countries in Europe for months to get away from war and save their lives.

For every single one of those individuals it was a particularly difficult and painful process because it meant leaving behind their homes and family in order to survive. That was an impactful moment in their lives which contributed to who they are today.

For the rest of us, when we decide to move forward in life, it might mean making some difficult choices which create painful first experiences, but it can also lead to personal growth, a better understanding of oneself and a new future. For those left behind however, it can be heartbreaking.

Simply moving on without considering the consequences on ourselves and those around us , leaving behind nothing but destruction, heartbreak and no explanation for the choices made, is not only insensitive and thoughtless, it can also have a very detrimental effect on the lives of those left behind.

For those staying back, finding the strength and courage to keep going and build a new life is the only option. Just making the decision to walk forwards in life and setting some goals is a huge positive first step.

Breaking any habits in our lives that are stopping us from being successful is the next step. Building new positive and healing routines means we are almost there! Because at that point we know with certainty that we are walking in the right direction and on the road to achieving our goals.

If you have made the decision to change your life, consider those around you and the effect your decisions will have on them. Sensitivity to others is not a sign of weakness but a sign of you being an honest, mature, compassionate and caring person.

It is a good idea to create a list of goals and keep a written record of everything you have achieved, not just your dreams, plans or goals, but what you have actually already done successfully. Share your plans with those who love you, if they can understand what you are trying to achieve, they can support you and find it easier to get on with their own lives.

It is good to have dreams and plans for our future.

All of us have dreams.

Just holding onto our dreams and never doing something about them means we will never reach our full potential, because it is true that if you can dream it you can also turn it into your goal and make it into your reality.

Success doesn’t come over night, it comes after many failed attempst, when we are fully commited to achieving our goals and do not give up on our plans. Make a positive habit of recording the steps you take on the road to success and on those days when it’s not going so well, read over what you wrote, it will encourage you to keep going.

As for me, I have made the decision to start all over again and be grateful for everything I have learned so far. This isn’t the end, only the start.

Keep walking forward, one foot in front of the other!

Kindly,

Beatriz

All content and photographs are the intellectual property of Beatriz Custodio Gonzalez.

© 2018-2025 Beatriz Custodio Gonzalez