Next week is my last week at my high paying hybrid web design job with good benefits. I’m making the most money I’ve ever made and I’m also the most miserable I’ve ever been.
I’m taking as much time off as I can to recover from burnout, to rest, and to live my life fully for the first time ever!
I have no objectives or goals for this time, so I can’t “fail”, but I do have things I want to do and places and people I want to visit.
I’m so excited to see what comes of this time and what opportunities present themselves. I’ve already had a few come up and I haven’t even left my job yet.
To some, this may seem irresponsible or short sighted or even reckless, but I’ve been responsible my whole life. I’ve never taken a big risk like this but it feels like the only path forward.
My dad had a stroke a week before he was supposed to retire. He’s okay, but he can’t do everything he was waiting to do, like ride his motorcycle around the US.
I don’t want to wait until I’m 70 to retire and start living my life. I’m 34 now and I don’t know what the world or my health will look like at that point. What I do know is I’m alive right now and I’m not getting any younger, healthier, or more able-bodied.
I know this time will be worth it, even if it sets me back financially because I’m living in line with my core values and asking myself “What do I want my life to look like?”
By the way, your book, “I Don’t Want to Grow Up”, was a big inspiration for this decision! Thank you, Scott!
THIS. I am beyond excited for you. What could be more reckless than staying in a situation that makes you miserable? It's not noble or honorable or anything to be admired. And it sounds like the universe is already rewarding you for following your heart and path to joy. ❤️🔥
I am truly sorry to hear about your dad's stroke. As you may remember from reading my book I Don't Want To Grow Up, my father-in-law passed away almost two months to the day after his retirement. When that happened something major shifted for me and my wife as well. One could come up with a million reasons to delay joy...and only one not to - tomorrow is not promised! That far outweighs waiting for "perfect timing"...the time is NOW. What do you want your life to look like? 😊
Thanks for your kind words about my book...so glad it found its way to you and that we're connected here. Happy wanderings.
Thank you for your kind reply! I do remember that part of the book and I’m very sorry about your father-in-law 😔 I wish he would’ve been able to enjoy his retirement. 💔
I’m very grateful that my dad is still with us and that I am able to take this time off work to spend more quality time with him and my 92 year old grandma, who is my best friend and main inspiration in life 💖
As you’ve said, time is our most precious resource. You can always make more money, but you cannot make more time. I want to take advantage of the time I have with my aging family members and I want to visit friends who I don’t normally have the time to see.
I’ve always fallen into waiting for the “perfect timing” and not taking the risk, but seeing my dad go through that changed my whole perspective.
I’m just glad I learned this lesson relatively early before my whole life slipped away.
You never know which day will be your last, so we may as well live it up while we can.
I hope others will realize this and I wish everyone could take the time that they need. Who knows, maybe this mindset will become more common in the future! 🤞🏼
I did the same thing. It was the best choice I ever made.
I’m almost 80 now. My travel years hold so many memories and I’m thankful I can still remember them all.
You should follow your dreams wherever it takes you. Life is the purpose and an enabler for it. Not to slog in any unhappiness and a useless daily grind.
Wow, I really appreciate the insight and confirmation that what I am doing is the right path! I know I’ll remember this time for the rest of my life. It will be worth it, no matter the outcome.
I’m so glad that you had that experience as well. I feel like it was not as common to stray from the “normal” path at that time, so kudos to you for listening to what you needed and doing it anyway!
Our leap into RV travel wasn’t a sudden jump. It was a long stride—one stretch of road at a time. Not everyone understood it, but we did. And every mile since has had its own silver lining. — C, The Tidy RV
I woke up this morning and knew something had shifted. I made coffee and began working on my art as I usually do, and listened to a successful artist on her podcast talk about her art journey teaching. She happened to be teaching on a cruise ship around Alaska.
My art has continued to improve in a very short time, and I've found a niche I'm good at and passionate about. So this morning I decided to pursue it full-time and create an online membership so that I can live a better life, add joy to people's lives, and stop feeling so stuck and limited. Then your email arrived, encouraging me to pursue dreams. It was just perfect to kickstart me into action. Thank you for this serendipitous introduction to a new life!
I can't tell you how much this makes me smile. Glad this post showed up when it did, validating what you know is true deep in your heart. 💖 You took the leap and the universe said "Well done Ruth, well done." So excited for you and all those who receive the benefits of your creations and art. Thank you!!
When my partner and I decided to sell everything and move our young kids onto a sailboat to live as nomads, we certainly got some big reactions. But the funny thing? We also got a ton of “oh I wanted to do something like that, but…” type reactions. I think many of us feel it when the way we are living life doesn’t fit us, but most don’t heed the call. Thanks for posting such beautiful content. May it help more people listen to themselves.
And thank you for living your dream too, Ashley. The world needs you to live this way because when you do you give unspoken permission for those around you to do the same. You are a living example of what's possible. Opening eyes and hearts of those who have heard the whisper of their own hearts.
I get you, Scott. That tiresome way of playing it safe within the comfort zone until such time as the pointlessness of predictable repetition in life brings one to a crossroads. Shall I summon the courage to confront the fears that limit my existence? Will I step into that fearsome grandeur of unknown that I feel I’m meant to explore, that experience of wonder once known to me as a child? And like you, I ventured into the wilderness of creation (the Great Smoky Mountains) to discover and develop a sense of the intangible benevolence that has led me here. Until that which I found there was restored sufficiently in my awareness that I was able to take it with me wherever I went. That dearly missed sense of true meaning and purpose come alive in me. And now I can be grateful for all the pain in me that was unbearable now proved beyond all doubt resolving in me now. This is what I couldn’t understand before. This is love.
Here's a dream that I can share: my garden (the small plot of land on which I sojourn) is virtually free of weeds and invasive plants. I recognize most of the herbs and wild edibles that are in it (but still learning more). My oaks that I planted are bearing acorns, and I dream (again dreaming) about leaching them and eating them. The Q. gambelii go gorgeous red in the autumn.
Must stop- I am in a daydream, but I must actually "wake up", and go out and move water and say words of encouragement to the chicory (beautiful blue), the yarrow, the wormwood..... They are present in my waking world.
Thanks for these moments in paradise. (I can write this because I got after some thistles today. There are more out there.)
Life stopped making sense around 27 (about 150 years ago lol) so I took a leap that I treasure to this day, returning to a creative focus. I had been very practical and diligent. It never occurred to me to market my "quarter life crisis" as a college pal called it (later someone wrote a book about her own such event), but I'm very glad I listened to that inner incongruence and trusted the path with heart.
Standing outside actively listening in nature can deliver the stillness. Making space for this moment is the point and then perhaps you’ll make the discovery. This takes time.🌎
I just jumped into temporary housing several weeks before my new home is ready so it feels like I am on a branch that just might snap. What if they change their mind?
On.the other hand, saying I could not stand where I was another day is an understatement. I actually should have left a long time ago but some strange things had to converge in order for me to be able to make this move now. It wasn't an option before.
Glad that you are getting out of a bad situation and I hope your temporary housing works out! I know this is a stressful and traumatic time, but your life is about to improve so much! Very happy for you. Some people never get out of a bad living situation and it takes a lot of courage to do so!
Just got back to the UK after an epic 6 months travelling around in a van in New Zealand. At 46, i quit my job, rented my house, sold everything that I could and went to the other side of the planet, it was incredible, wild, soul igniting... and now im back in familiar surroundings, and as yet, have no idea what comes next ....
Welcome back. Your story and travels sounds amazing. I recently started a readers' stories page here on my Substack dedicated to stories just like yours. A place where this community can come to find/give inspiration for taking the leap needed to move towards more joy in their life. I wonder if you'd be interested in elaborating and sharing a story to be considered for submission. I'll drop the link here so you can check it out but I'd be willing to bet many others would be interested in hearing more about what drove you to this decision, some of the challenges you faced, the rewards you received, how the universe supported you along the way,etc. Anyway, thanks for sharing. Enjoy the mystery of what's next. 🤩
Next week is my last week at my high paying hybrid web design job with good benefits. I’m making the most money I’ve ever made and I’m also the most miserable I’ve ever been.
I’m taking as much time off as I can to recover from burnout, to rest, and to live my life fully for the first time ever!
I have no objectives or goals for this time, so I can’t “fail”, but I do have things I want to do and places and people I want to visit.
I’m so excited to see what comes of this time and what opportunities present themselves. I’ve already had a few come up and I haven’t even left my job yet.
To some, this may seem irresponsible or short sighted or even reckless, but I’ve been responsible my whole life. I’ve never taken a big risk like this but it feels like the only path forward.
My dad had a stroke a week before he was supposed to retire. He’s okay, but he can’t do everything he was waiting to do, like ride his motorcycle around the US.
I don’t want to wait until I’m 70 to retire and start living my life. I’m 34 now and I don’t know what the world or my health will look like at that point. What I do know is I’m alive right now and I’m not getting any younger, healthier, or more able-bodied.
I know this time will be worth it, even if it sets me back financially because I’m living in line with my core values and asking myself “What do I want my life to look like?”
By the way, your book, “I Don’t Want to Grow Up”, was a big inspiration for this decision! Thank you, Scott!
THIS. I am beyond excited for you. What could be more reckless than staying in a situation that makes you miserable? It's not noble or honorable or anything to be admired. And it sounds like the universe is already rewarding you for following your heart and path to joy. ❤️🔥
I am truly sorry to hear about your dad's stroke. As you may remember from reading my book I Don't Want To Grow Up, my father-in-law passed away almost two months to the day after his retirement. When that happened something major shifted for me and my wife as well. One could come up with a million reasons to delay joy...and only one not to - tomorrow is not promised! That far outweighs waiting for "perfect timing"...the time is NOW. What do you want your life to look like? 😊
Thanks for your kind words about my book...so glad it found its way to you and that we're connected here. Happy wanderings.
Thank you for your kind reply! I do remember that part of the book and I’m very sorry about your father-in-law 😔 I wish he would’ve been able to enjoy his retirement. 💔
I’m very grateful that my dad is still with us and that I am able to take this time off work to spend more quality time with him and my 92 year old grandma, who is my best friend and main inspiration in life 💖
As you’ve said, time is our most precious resource. You can always make more money, but you cannot make more time. I want to take advantage of the time I have with my aging family members and I want to visit friends who I don’t normally have the time to see.
I’ve always fallen into waiting for the “perfect timing” and not taking the risk, but seeing my dad go through that changed my whole perspective.
I’m just glad I learned this lesson relatively early before my whole life slipped away.
You never know which day will be your last, so we may as well live it up while we can.
I hope others will realize this and I wish everyone could take the time that they need. Who knows, maybe this mindset will become more common in the future! 🤞🏼
💖
And then do whatever you want to. Most of all, be there for the moments.
The journey is the destination. 🦋
Exactly!! 🎯🎯🎯 Working on being present and not focusing so much on the future.
This was so encouraging to read and we're happy for you!
Thank you so much!! I am so excited to see where this takes me and I’ve truly never felt so alive!
Go go go! You're doing it. I'm proud of you, stranger on the internet.
Awwww thank you so much! 🥹🥰🥰🥰
I did the same thing. It was the best choice I ever made.
I’m almost 80 now. My travel years hold so many memories and I’m thankful I can still remember them all.
You should follow your dreams wherever it takes you. Life is the purpose and an enabler for it. Not to slog in any unhappiness and a useless daily grind.
😊 Thank you for leading the way!
Wow, I really appreciate the insight and confirmation that what I am doing is the right path! I know I’ll remember this time for the rest of my life. It will be worth it, no matter the outcome.
I’m so glad that you had that experience as well. I feel like it was not as common to stray from the “normal” path at that time, so kudos to you for listening to what you needed and doing it anyway!
on the other side of every leap I’ve taken were the miracles and the growth I didn’t know I needed.
- booking a 6-week solo trip to new zealand a week before i left
- quitting a venture capital job to pursue my long-time passion for health & wellness with absolutely no plan
- quitting a part-time health consulting job to write my first book
- writing my second book
- moving to venice, california with no friends there, but an inner knowing that i had to live there
- doing a 14-day advanced detox immersion in costa rica and booking the trip a week before i left
the list goes on and on and on.
you just know when it feels right.
listen.
take the leap.
Yes. Thank you for validating with your own story! 💖
love it
Our leap into RV travel wasn’t a sudden jump. It was a long stride—one stretch of road at a time. Not everyone understood it, but we did. And every mile since has had its own silver lining. — C, The Tidy RV
They didn't understand it because it wasn't their dream...it was/is yours! 💖
I woke up this morning and knew something had shifted. I made coffee and began working on my art as I usually do, and listened to a successful artist on her podcast talk about her art journey teaching. She happened to be teaching on a cruise ship around Alaska.
My art has continued to improve in a very short time, and I've found a niche I'm good at and passionate about. So this morning I decided to pursue it full-time and create an online membership so that I can live a better life, add joy to people's lives, and stop feeling so stuck and limited. Then your email arrived, encouraging me to pursue dreams. It was just perfect to kickstart me into action. Thank you for this serendipitous introduction to a new life!
Love this idea. Drop a link!
I can't tell you how much this makes me smile. Glad this post showed up when it did, validating what you know is true deep in your heart. 💖 You took the leap and the universe said "Well done Ruth, well done." So excited for you and all those who receive the benefits of your creations and art. Thank you!!
Your dreams only need make sense to you. You are the culmination of every experience you've ever had, and only you know how that feels.
When my partner and I decided to sell everything and move our young kids onto a sailboat to live as nomads, we certainly got some big reactions. But the funny thing? We also got a ton of “oh I wanted to do something like that, but…” type reactions. I think many of us feel it when the way we are living life doesn’t fit us, but most don’t heed the call. Thanks for posting such beautiful content. May it help more people listen to themselves.
And thank you for living your dream too, Ashley. The world needs you to live this way because when you do you give unspoken permission for those around you to do the same. You are a living example of what's possible. Opening eyes and hearts of those who have heard the whisper of their own hearts.
I get you, Scott. That tiresome way of playing it safe within the comfort zone until such time as the pointlessness of predictable repetition in life brings one to a crossroads. Shall I summon the courage to confront the fears that limit my existence? Will I step into that fearsome grandeur of unknown that I feel I’m meant to explore, that experience of wonder once known to me as a child? And like you, I ventured into the wilderness of creation (the Great Smoky Mountains) to discover and develop a sense of the intangible benevolence that has led me here. Until that which I found there was restored sufficiently in my awareness that I was able to take it with me wherever I went. That dearly missed sense of true meaning and purpose come alive in me. And now I can be grateful for all the pain in me that was unbearable now proved beyond all doubt resolving in me now. This is what I couldn’t understand before. This is love.
This is Love. Yes, yes it is. Thank you for this beautiful share.
Here's a dream that I can share: my garden (the small plot of land on which I sojourn) is virtually free of weeds and invasive plants. I recognize most of the herbs and wild edibles that are in it (but still learning more). My oaks that I planted are bearing acorns, and I dream (again dreaming) about leaching them and eating them. The Q. gambelii go gorgeous red in the autumn.
Must stop- I am in a daydream, but I must actually "wake up", and go out and move water and say words of encouragement to the chicory (beautiful blue), the yarrow, the wormwood..... They are present in my waking world.
Thanks for these moments in paradise. (I can write this because I got after some thistles today. There are more out there.)
Life stopped making sense around 27 (about 150 years ago lol) so I took a leap that I treasure to this day, returning to a creative focus. I had been very practical and diligent. It never occurred to me to market my "quarter life crisis" as a college pal called it (later someone wrote a book about her own such event), but I'm very glad I listened to that inner incongruence and trusted the path with heart.
Standing outside actively listening in nature can deliver the stillness. Making space for this moment is the point and then perhaps you’ll make the discovery. This takes time.🌎
I just jumped into temporary housing several weeks before my new home is ready so it feels like I am on a branch that just might snap. What if they change their mind?
On.the other hand, saying I could not stand where I was another day is an understatement. I actually should have left a long time ago but some strange things had to converge in order for me to be able to make this move now. It wasn't an option before.
Glad that you are getting out of a bad situation and I hope your temporary housing works out! I know this is a stressful and traumatic time, but your life is about to improve so much! Very happy for you. Some people never get out of a bad living situation and it takes a lot of courage to do so!
Just got back to the UK after an epic 6 months travelling around in a van in New Zealand. At 46, i quit my job, rented my house, sold everything that I could and went to the other side of the planet, it was incredible, wild, soul igniting... and now im back in familiar surroundings, and as yet, have no idea what comes next ....
Welcome back. Your story and travels sounds amazing. I recently started a readers' stories page here on my Substack dedicated to stories just like yours. A place where this community can come to find/give inspiration for taking the leap needed to move towards more joy in their life. I wonder if you'd be interested in elaborating and sharing a story to be considered for submission. I'll drop the link here so you can check it out but I'd be willing to bet many others would be interested in hearing more about what drove you to this decision, some of the challenges you faced, the rewards you received, how the universe supported you along the way,etc. Anyway, thanks for sharing. Enjoy the mystery of what's next. 🤩
https://scottstillman.substack.com/p/reader-stories
Thanks for the invite Scott, just shared :-)
Thank you, can't wait to read more.
I thi be it’s pointless and that’s, indeed, the true point of life. 😂
42?