What If Everything We've Accepted as "Normal" Isn't Actually Serving Us?
Global Note: Week of March 23rd
Dear friend who feels that pull toward something different,
I believe that moving abroad isn't just about changing your location—it's about questioning what we've been told is "normal" and why we continue living within systems that don't serve our deepest values.
That nagging feeling you have during rushed school mornings? The worry that surfaces when you see another headline about healthcare costs? The Sunday evening dread as another frantic week approaches? These aren't just personal struggles—they're signals that the life we've been told to accept might not be the only option.
You've done the research. You've calculated costs. You've explored school options and visa requirements. But something still holds you back from making the leap—perhaps it's the voice asking, "Who am I to want something different? To believe my family deserves more?"
Let me tell you what I've witnessed in hundreds of families who finally took that step: the relief in parents' eyes when they realize their children can safely walk to school alone. The disbelief when they receive their first medical bill. The joy of family dinners without one parent stuck at the office. These aren't luxuries—they're possibilities that exist when you question what you've been taught to accept as inevitable.
This week's Global Note offers carefully selected resources and perspectives to help you challenge what you've been told is inevitable. Each article invites you to question a different aspect of "normal" life—from education systems to healthcare access, from work expectations to community connection. Whether you're still researching options or finalizing your moving plans, I hope these insights strengthen your resolve to create a life aligned with your family's true priorities. After all, questioning what we've accepted as "normal" isn't radical—it's the first step toward intentional living.
Your intuition isn't wrong. That different life you imagine? It's waiting.
With you on this journey, Sonaya
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Thank you for this. I was just thinking about this during a recent conversation with my husband and son.