#9. When time does its quiet work

During my visit to Billabong Retreat, I have been reflecting on how fascinating it is to look back in time, to see who we once were and who we have become, and to witness the unfolding stories of the people around us.

Today, I’m with my mum, celebrating her 72nd birthday. Being here again feels like opening a time capsule. I first came to this place ten years ago with my dear friend Marcella, a warm and vibrant soul I met while working at Kellogg's. She’s from Peru, and by a twist of fate, her partner at the time was a German guy who happened to be the business partner of my now husband. Marcella introduced us, and that changed the course of my life.

Back then, I was single, working in my corporate role at Kellogg’s, a flexible job where Fridays were free. Marcella and I filled our time with things that made us feel alive, like tennis lessons and weekend getaways. When we came here, she had been with her boyfriend for six years, dreaming of marriage and family. At dinner one night, another guest, hearing our boyfriends worked together, warned us to protect our friendship from the strain business can place on relationships. His words stayed with me.

Looking back now, Marcella and her partner eventually married and had two beautiful children. But the business partnership between our partners ended, and our friendship took some knocks too. It was a reminder that business is never just about business — it’s about people, and the ripple effects run deep. Marcella now lives in Germany, and though we rarely see each other, our connection remains. I will always hold gratitude for the role she played in helping me meet my other half.

Five years later, I returned here with my friend Victor, one of my closest friends from university. We had moved to Australia around the same time and shared many milestones. That trip was during a difficult chapter for him; he had just ended a relationship because his partner didn’t want more children, and starting a family was central to his vision for life. We spent those days helping him heal, rest, and rediscover a little joy.

Now, five years on, Victor is with a wonderful partner, has a two-year-old boy, and is expecting a little girl. His story, like Marcella’s, reminds me that while we must be intentional about what we want, time has a way of aligning the pieces in its own rhythm.

As for me, the first time I came here, I had just started dating my now husband. Since then, I’ve built and sold a business, navigated its highs and lows, married, and welcomed two children. I’m here now seeking rest, recovery, and perhaps some quiet space to listen to what the next chapter might be.

We can only connect the dots looking backwards. And sometimes, when we give life the time it needs, things do work out, though not always in the way we imagined.

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What might your future self thank you for starting, or letting go of, today?