New Caledonia: The Trip That Rebuilt Me

I’ll never forget the plane ride to Nouméa. I was a wreck — scared, sad, nervous, and wishing more than anything that I didn’t have to go. But I had nowhere else to be. My tenants were still in my house, and after the breakup it didnt feel right to be at Pauls. So I boarded a plane to New Caledonia alone, on a trip we had planned together, carrying the weight of two intense years and a heart that felt completely undone.

Meeting Kayleen: A Stranger Who Became a Lifeline

Somewhere between take off and landing, I met Kaylene — a bubbly, warm, empathetic woman who was travelling to meet her husband working in Nouméa. She told me she’d also be spending time with a woman she hadn’t yet met, Ursula, whose husband was on a boat with hers.

We got talking, and before I knew it, I’d spilled my whole sob story — the breakup, the upheaval, the fear of starting over again. She listened without judgement, and when we exchanged names before heading to our separate accommodations, I didn’t expect anything more.

But when I connected to Wi-Fi, there she was — a message from Kaylene, checking in.

That night, we met for dinner. I walked into the restaurant having only met Kayleen a few hours earlier, and was greeted by Ursula — a complete stranger — with a hug and a book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F#K.*

Under strict instructions from Ursula, I read it during my trip. And boy, did it resonate.

Held by Kindness

Over the next few days, Kaylene and Ursula took me under their wing. We shared meals, laughs, tears, and honest conversations. They looked after me in a way I didn’t even know I needed.

When Kaylene and her husband Matt changed hotels, they ended up directly opposite my room. Suddenly, I had company — glasses of bubbles, chats on the balcony, breakfast delivered and even a snorkelling session. Kaylene's husband is the legendary Matt Watson!

Their story, their kindness, their openness — it revived me. It reminded me that good people exist everywhere, and that sometimes the universe sends exactly who you need at exactly the right time.

Returning Home: Piece by Piece

The flight back home offered another chance for reflection and contemplation. I thought about the individuals I had encountered and their stories, particularly Paul and Matt, who have both achieved international success and independently built everything they have. Their challenges and triumphs stem from their resilience and dedication to their passion. By the time I returned to New Zealand, I felt rejuvenated, reinvigorated, and prepared to rebuild after two remarkable, challenging, and emotional years.

But it wasn’t easy.

I had no car. No motorbike. No savings — I’d spent the last of them on the non‑refundable trip. My job was based in the Lower North Island. And I was starting from scratch… again.

It was confronting. I had already rebuilt my life once after Sam’s accident. Now here I was, five years later, facing another reset.

But piece by piece, things started to come together.

I moved back into my house. I negotiated working from home until I could resign. A friend reached out with an offer: two months of short‑term work and a fully furnished house for $75 a week. And then I made a decision — a big one.

Reclaiming My Purpose: Helping Women Ride

I contacted Alan Petrie, GM of Yamaha Motor NZ, and pitched the idea of developing a Yamaha Women’s Ambassador role. I wanted to build my dream: helping women get into off‑road riding.

After everything I had been through — the adversity, the fear, the rebuilding — I knew I could help others navigate their own noise, doubt, and lack of confidence. Because every time I had climbed a challenge in life, the reward, the growth, the “feel good” was worth every hard moment.

I was ready to give everything I had to move forward. Ready to turn my experiences into something meaningful. Ready to help women find the confidence that had carried me where fear was so loud.