Leaving a stable job the day you are offered a significant promotion. Leaving a department where you put all your love. Leaving your friends. Leaving a partner of almost 6 years. All to throw yourself into the uncertainty of making that trip you’ve wanted since you were a little girl? Leaving your whole life, your degree, your stability to go clean bathrooms if necessary? YES, YES, YES!!!!!

TAKING A 360-DEGREE IN MY LIFE

“But are you going to do something related to your career, right?” They asked me constantly. “Nope, quite the opposite,” was always my response. Despite all the uncertainty, I knew that the only goal I had was to NOT DO ANYTHING RELATED TO MY CAREER OR MY DEGREE.

So, what would this be? I studied Business Administration and Systems, and I loved it! Before embarking on that journey, I had worked in various companies, Multinationals, SMEs, and my last job was at a Start-Up. That was my favorite. Where I learned a lot, and where I made incredible friends. We worked in a beautiful glass office, all sitting at a giant table, drinking mate, our boss was the best and trusted us, giving us the freedom to manage our time, our projects. We went for after-work drinks quite often, to be honest. We had a good time, honestly. We worked hard, gave it our all. Many times on weekends, even late into the night.

I liked my job, but I have to admit that the day my boss told me there were going to be changes and he wanted to promote me to a cool position, I happily and peacefully said, “Thank you, but I’m going to Australia.” Having lived in Australia for 7 years previously, he said to me, “I have nothing to hold you back.” He was very happy with my decision.

With that sincerity, the adventure began. This was about 3 months before my departure date. And those months were a roller coaster. The sadness and anxiety of breaking up with my boyfriend, with whom I had a beautiful relationship, but the time had come for each of us to take different paths. Moving out of an apartment after 2 and a half years. Organizing my life. Arguments with my family, because they disagreed with my decision, which will be the subject for another post. A few intense months, full of emotions, sadness, anxiety, uncertainty, extra happiness, and I have to admit, one of the best feelings: FREEDOM.

That feeling made it all worthwhile. I hadn’t left yet, but I felt FREE. And at the end of that year, where I had to start from scratch, I can say that I learned more than all my years of school and college. I met incredible people, whom I still keep as friends today, 5 years later. I lived in epic places. I lived closer to nature than I had ever lived in my whole life. A year of learning. I was happy and I knew it.

Sometimes I would think about everything that had happened to be there, sitting watching that incredible sunset, surrounded by people from different parts of the world. And I admit, it was the best decision of my entire life. I started from scratch, with uncertainty, not knowing what would happen, and that showed me a new life. Since that trip, I haven’t stopped. I always search, in different places and forms, for something of everything I learned from that decision. A before and an after.

So, for you, who are thinking of starting over, GO FOR IT! Don’t think too much, and go for what you feel! It can completely change your life!