Two and half weeks ago, I wandered through thee small rural town of Healesville in Victoria, I had no idea that I was about to experience a serendipitous encounter. I had been shopping a local co-op, collecting little local souvenirs to take home. I stopped into a local pub for some dinner and was surprised to find my friend from New Zealand and her partner and boys sitting in the outside area. It was a delightful surprise, and we had a wonderful catch up. It was amazing how, in such a small town, we were able to run into each other so unexpectedly. She inspired me to consider completing another body building competition this year.

My trip to Melbourne was equally full of serendipitous moments. I had an incredible day catching up with an old school friend, exploring the city and discovering hidden gems that I would never have found on my own. We even saw a fabulous ballerina performing Swan Lake on one of the busy main roads! As the day came to an end, my friend was about to leave, and I was getting ready to head to the airport, but I found out that my flight was going to be delayed by four hours. It was an unexpected twist of fate, and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

I had been thinking about getting a tattoo while in Melbourne, and with the delay in my flight, I decided to explore some options. As fate would have it, I stumbled upon a tattoo shop in South Melbourne that caught my eye. I knew I wanted to be tattooed by a woman, and as luck would have it, I was introduced to #schlgrl aka Imogen a talented female tattoo artist. We collaborated to create a design that symbolized my journey and values: a lotus flower with the silhouette of a woman meditating and the sunrise in the background, representing emergence, peace, clarity, and new beginnings. It was serendipitous that I found Imogen and that she was able to create such a meaningful tattoo for me.

Looking back, my trip through Victoria was full of serendipitous moments that led me to connect with old friends, explore new places, and discover opportunities that I never would have found otherwise. It was a reminder that sometimes the unexpected twists in life can lead us down the most rewarding paths.