Yes!! It comes down to facing ones fears. The things that keep me bound. The things I avoid.. even looking at them! LOL
Not easy. Most people compromise and never reach their full potential. Too scary, too much work.. staying in miserable situations because the fear of the unknown is bigger than the misery..
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Someone said to me ine day: what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail.
Well said. Expat here. My wife and I moved countries twice. Whatever we think we’re leaving behind (it’s always self), somehow shows up at the door. Every time.
That’s what we decided, too. We ended up in a small (not tiny but pretty small!) cabin in the woods too and are much happier here than I think we would have been travelling around in a bus full time. Especially with 3 cats! 😅
haha same, it's the pets that made us realise it wouldn't be possible. At the time we had a dog, cat and a parrot. Currently only the parrot, and to be fair I think he would love it - but he's loving his cabin in the woods too 😊
I remember, many years ago, telling my therapist that I wanted to run away and begin again someplace where I knew no one. She asked me who was going with me? I was quite frustrated at her lack of understanding and said firmly “no body is coming with me that’s the whole bloody point I want to be on my own and begin again!”
She smiled gently and tapped the side of her head and quietly said again “who is going with you?”
Hey a sailboat is definitely still on my list as well. It may not be the answer to my problems, but I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy sailing around New Zealand 😁
Yes, sailing for sure ⛵️🛥️and living on a boat- can’t say. My wish is to live for several months on the boat and the rest in a city and in the mountains.
It’s the same when living an expat lifestyle. My dream was always to live in a big city somewhere and I made that come true several times over, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. It was definitely hard at times. Still, there’s satisfaction to be had from pursuing and attaining your dreams. I think that’s invaluable.
I agree with everything you said! It takes me so much self-awareness to NOT think 'in X place my life would be so much easier' at the first hint of difficulty! And especially for people who can move easily from place to place, this is a problem as it tricks you to think that a life without issues is just another move away, when it is actually not. Great post!! :)
Love this! It’s so true that the beauty of our abstract dreams shatters against the harsh reality. Meaningful things are hard. I hate that one saying that goes something like, “when you follow your dreams the universe will open every door.” I’m paraphrasing really badly, but the essence is just not accurate. You hit every roadblock and detour and difficulty. It’s just the way it is. I think it does have a purpose to grow us into who we’re meant to be, but the fact remains that it’s hard. Love this honest, inspiring story ♥️
Yes, and I think because of that messaging people get discouraged once they hit the first roadblock, like it's just not meant to be. Whereas if you push through, that's when the magic happens.
Amazing post as always Sophie! Your mindset and your journey are just as important as your dream on the horizon. I've always joked about fleeing to a cabin in the woods with my friends, but your story reminds me that it's obviously not as easy as it appears😂
On a different note, hey fellow broker! I'm so so glad you got the chance to read Social Chemistry. It means a lot to me that you were able to get something out of my publication. King dishes out some valuable little known knowledge :)
I love the truth in this piece and, as someone who has joked about running away from life to a cabin in the woods to escape work burnout, also hate it! 😂 The mindset piece is so important. It’s always about our inside landscape and not just external circumstances.
Hi Sophie, we did it the other way round!. I grew up in a very rural environment in Yorkshire in the 50's and 60's and found the move to urban life difficult in the 70's. As much as I would have liked my children to have my childhood I didn't want them to struggle in an urban one. After three attempts we made it from a house tied to the job, to owning our own, to a second home in France where we picked up our unfinished rural life. Now back in rural Somerset but in an urban setting. Best of both worlds! Look at it this way "It's all character building."
Thank you for this reminder! As someone who left home to slow travel for 2 years, only to return home still suffering from depressive episodes, the understanding that c wherever you go, there you are' really hits home..
I see them as void spaces where I'm being asked to look within, shed, & evolve. I feel they are a part of my life & have come to accept that they'll always return - but I measure my progress by how I cope within them and how quickly I make way through them! Writing helps :) Thank you for asking Xx
That cabin in the woods was another chapter of personal growth for me. I learned to be by myself for myself. Alone.
We don't grow in our comfort zone.
Today I'm not sure where I will end up.
The only constant in life is change. I found that I think I know what I want, then I get there and ... lol
Life is an adventure and I believe today that stagnation and compromising myself and my believes are the only real detriments to me.
We all have our path.
Thank you!
Change is there to be embraced and so is adventure!
Yes!! It comes down to facing ones fears. The things that keep me bound. The things I avoid.. even looking at them! LOL
Not easy. Most people compromise and never reach their full potential. Too scary, too much work.. staying in miserable situations because the fear of the unknown is bigger than the misery..
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Someone said to me ine day: what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail.
Well said. Expat here. My wife and I moved countries twice. Whatever we think we’re leaving behind (it’s always self), somehow shows up at the door. Every time.
Yep, every single time, can relate 😊
Converting a school bus into a mobile home is not the answer, either. Ask me how I know this. 😂
Lol that was on my list of dreams too!
Glad you went with the cabin in the woods instead! 😆
Yeah I don't think we could've made the bus work, not as a full time lifestyle. The tiny house is working out pretty great so far!
That’s what we decided, too. We ended up in a small (not tiny but pretty small!) cabin in the woods too and are much happier here than I think we would have been travelling around in a bus full time. Especially with 3 cats! 😅
haha same, it's the pets that made us realise it wouldn't be possible. At the time we had a dog, cat and a parrot. Currently only the parrot, and to be fair I think he would love it - but he's loving his cabin in the woods too 😊
I remember, many years ago, telling my therapist that I wanted to run away and begin again someplace where I knew no one. She asked me who was going with me? I was quite frustrated at her lack of understanding and said firmly “no body is coming with me that’s the whole bloody point I want to be on my own and begin again!”
She smiled gently and tapped the side of her head and quietly said again “who is going with you?”
Suddenly, I knew what she meant.
it’s so true, we’re always taking ourselves 😊
@Emily Conway 🙂
Ha! I’m going to argue with that (she says, having not read the piece). Thanks, Don😊. Will read it!
definitely read and then tell me what you think 😁
I did and I agree! We cannot escape ourselves. Everywhere we go, there we are. Thank you:)
“Sailboats are also not the answer”! Now I am starting to question my big dream🙃 Loved your witty, realistic and mindful piece🤩
Hey a sailboat is definitely still on my list as well. It may not be the answer to my problems, but I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy sailing around New Zealand 😁
Yes, sailing for sure ⛵️🛥️and living on a boat- can’t say. My wish is to live for several months on the boat and the rest in a city and in the mountains.
It’s the same when living an expat lifestyle. My dream was always to live in a big city somewhere and I made that come true several times over, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. It was definitely hard at times. Still, there’s satisfaction to be had from pursuing and attaining your dreams. I think that’s invaluable.
I agree with everything you said! It takes me so much self-awareness to NOT think 'in X place my life would be so much easier' at the first hint of difficulty! And especially for people who can move easily from place to place, this is a problem as it tricks you to think that a life without issues is just another move away, when it is actually not. Great post!! :)
It's always kind of nicer and easier in the first months after a move, and then all the old problems pop up again!
Love this! It’s so true that the beauty of our abstract dreams shatters against the harsh reality. Meaningful things are hard. I hate that one saying that goes something like, “when you follow your dreams the universe will open every door.” I’m paraphrasing really badly, but the essence is just not accurate. You hit every roadblock and detour and difficulty. It’s just the way it is. I think it does have a purpose to grow us into who we’re meant to be, but the fact remains that it’s hard. Love this honest, inspiring story ♥️
Yes, and I think because of that messaging people get discouraged once they hit the first roadblock, like it's just not meant to be. Whereas if you push through, that's when the magic happens.
Wow, this was an amazing read!
Thanks so much, really appreciate the kind words ❤️
I really lived this one. That "mindset change" was a masterpiece I would say.
It is a very considerable point while chasing your dream.
Thanks for this beautiful story with genuine real emotion
Thanks so much Indranil ❤️
Amazing post as always Sophie! Your mindset and your journey are just as important as your dream on the horizon. I've always joked about fleeing to a cabin in the woods with my friends, but your story reminds me that it's obviously not as easy as it appears😂
On a different note, hey fellow broker! I'm so so glad you got the chance to read Social Chemistry. It means a lot to me that you were able to get something out of my publication. King dishes out some valuable little known knowledge :)
Ah very cool that you are a broker as well 😁 and hey the cabin in the woods is still worth it, just hard work!
I love the truth in this piece and, as someone who has joked about running away from life to a cabin in the woods to escape work burnout, also hate it! 😂 The mindset piece is so important. It’s always about our inside landscape and not just external circumstances.
100% the inner landscape is the most important thing to get right, I feel once you get that right then everything else will just naturally follow.
Hi Sophie, we did it the other way round!. I grew up in a very rural environment in Yorkshire in the 50's and 60's and found the move to urban life difficult in the 70's. As much as I would have liked my children to have my childhood I didn't want them to struggle in an urban one. After three attempts we made it from a house tied to the job, to owning our own, to a second home in France where we picked up our unfinished rural life. Now back in rural Somerset but in an urban setting. Best of both worlds! Look at it this way "It's all character building."
Oh sounds like you've found the ideal set up for you, that's amazing. And yes, I'm building so much character right now. 😂
Thank you for this reminder! As someone who left home to slow travel for 2 years, only to return home still suffering from depressive episodes, the understanding that c wherever you go, there you are' really hits home..
yep, I had to learn the hard way too - did you manage to find out a way out of your depressive episodes since then?
I see them as void spaces where I'm being asked to look within, shed, & evolve. I feel they are a part of my life & have come to accept that they'll always return - but I measure my progress by how I cope within them and how quickly I make way through them! Writing helps :) Thank you for asking Xx
I lived alone by the bay for a time, sheltering from the pandemic (and my past).
I walked barefoot on the beach year round. The pipes froze, then burst and I had to carry buckets of water up 17 stairs to flush the toilet.
High tide made ice rivers cutting me off from the rest of society. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Space to feel, space to grow.
It gave me a seed of the mindset I have now- that I decide who I am, wherever I am. ❤️
It's crazy how those difficult times are exactly the ones we think back on fondly! We learn so much in those moments .
Exactly, Sophie! The challenges require presence. We find out what we’re made of.