How to Make a Huge Move in Your Life: Before
It’s coming down to the wire now. There’s less than 3 weeks before I hop on a plane to the US to begin the 27 adventure. It’s big, and crazy and for the most part I don’t think I’m really recognising what’s going on.
I’ve finished up the design work and nearly everything has been booked and paid for. I still need to pack my things and pack what I’m leaving behind into boxes. Most of the hard work has been done. The money has been earned and the savings put away. The days of tears and doubts have been and gone like a blur, a half memory that seems like years ago now.
But how did I do it? How did I save over $18,000 in 6 months? I worked hard for it. When I first floated this idea by three people I trusted to tell it to me straight, Kathryn did (like she always does). She said to me, that it was a lot of money and she wasn’t sure how I could come up with it. But she also said two things that I repeated in my head over and over on those hard days: you’ve just got to hustle; and you own this. They became my mantra, and I did it.
I took on a day job where I liked the role but struggled in the environment. Going back to a corporate environment after 3 years of self employment is honestly one of the most difficult things I could do. I took on the job before the idea to make the move, but one came after the other. I also left that job well short of my goal and with little idea that I could make it the rest of the way based solely on my business that I had put on hold for 4 months. But somehow, opportunities popped up. I said yes and I worked as many hours as they needed to get them done well.
Leaving that job may have also been a crazy decision, but it was the right one. I was so burnt out after those 4 months that I don’t think I could have done another day even for the cash. Thankfully, I learnt a long time ago that my health is worth more than the money I could make and it worked out for the best in the end.
While it all feels so surreal right now, I’m ready to take on this adventure and to see where it takes me. I’m really looking forward to seeing things with fresh eyes and an open heart; to seeing friends and having fun and most of all to feeling inspired and feeling alive.
It’s nearly time to jump in and see where this huge move takes me.
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A Birthday and The 27 Adventure
It’s finally here. The day is nearly over in fact. The day I have been dreading for as long as I can remember. My 27th Birthday. I talked about it here about 6 months ago.
I’m not usually one to get hung up on birthdays and getting older. I see getting older as a blessing not a curse. It’s not getting older that scares me and keeps me awake at night. My mum never made it past 27 and it’s been playing crazies with my mind for a while, and I thought today would be terrible, but in the end the lead up and anxiety was far worse than the day itself.
Today was very me. It had great food – pancakes for breakfast, vegemite sandwiches for lunch, chocolate mousse birthday cake, homemade burgers and cheezels. It had great company – my Dad and a surprise visit from my aunt and uncle. It had birthday messages from friends and family and great weather. And it had time to breathe and relax with no rush to be anywhere. A lovely way to spend my last birthday (for the foreseeable future) in Australia.
But now it begins. I like to start my new year on my birthday. I’m not much of a NYE reveller, so I start my new beginnings today. I reached the amount of savings I need for my trip, in fact I passed it, late Friday. So I start this year with the money I need to make this trip and 2013 an amazing adventure. The kind that my 27th year needs.
I’m feeling excited for it. And ready. Not packed ready – I’m no where near that. But I can book the last of the things and buy the last of what I need to get. The next few weeks will be a blur of packing things and getting nostalgic; of laughter, fun and preparing for Alt.
I hope to be here more writing, but we will see. There will definitely be more to read once the trip gets started and the inspiration comes to visit.
I’ve been looking for a name for this trip and I finally found it today: The 27 Adventure. It sums it up perfectly and a grand adventure it’s sure to be.
But for now I say goodnight and goodbye to another birthday and feel blessed that I get to make my dreams happen and that there are great people in this world that I’m so lucky to call my friends.
xx
16,265km
That’s how far it is between Melbourne and Toronto. It’s not the furthest I’ve lived from home. The internet tells me that Glasgow is around 700km further, but it’s still a hell of a long way from here and in one month’s time, I’ll be on my way.
It still feels a bit surreal. Like it’s not happening to me. I’m not as organised for the USA part of the trip as I would like to be, but I’ll get there. There are still things to book, but the flights are done and the test pack of my suitcase tells me that there’s room to buy some new clothes that I so desperately need. I have decided that Boxing Day will be ‘Get Organised’ day. (December 26 for those who don’t get Boxing Day) It’s probably a good thing to set that day, really, as it’s usually one of my most motivated days of the year. Last year I painted my office on my own.
I’m emotionally ready for this trip. It’s been a long time coming and it’s just so awesome that I made a goal and am actually able to achieve it, and so long as everyone pays me what they owe, I will have more than what I need in monetary terms, which will also be a weight off. I won’t make the $20,000 I was aiming for, but that was more than I needed anyway. It was a nice round, and very ambitious goal and having it helped me to get as far as I have.
I hope this trip will help keep me inspired and find where I’m meant to be. It’s nearly time to say my goodbyes and get ready for a lot of friendly hellos from new and old friends and to find that adventure that I’ve been missing.
If we can just get through Birthday/Christmas week, I think we’re going to be ok.
x
