One year ago today, I turn my life around.
Yep, it’s my one-year anniversary. A second birthday, if you will. I said good-bye to my little cubic farm, put my backpack on and left.
I used to plan the moment with my friend, shooting glitter gun at the doorstep of the office while handing out my brand new business card written ‘Runaway Juno’. As much as I really wanted to, I just walked away gracefully.
One year ago
I remember this time around last year, I was bitter, grouch, dark and deep. I had a big fort up around me with broken glasses on top, and creating my own little happy world. Yes, I was unhappy. Like a ninety year-old man who has a full of regret in his life. And then it hit me; I’m gonna live how many lifetimes, and why shouldn’t I change things? I should.
A lot of people asked me how did I know the right moment to walk away. My answer was, there are two choices; you can stop dreaming and compromise with your life or you can make your dream come true. Which one will you choose?
What have I done so far?
I traveled. Still am.
Traveling China is now out of my system, and I put Vietnam and Laos under my belt. America has been a big part of my year, and more exciting travel plan is waiting for me. Still I am traveling, to this day.
Not just that; I’m designing my life.
The best part about shifting gear of the life is that I truly feel something achieved for myself, not for someone else’s glory. I work more than I used to in the office but all the output comes to me. The magic of designing my own life is to know what I really want to do. I own it. The ideas, the plans, the time and the place; I can design it all. And also it means I have to be responsible for everything that could happen along the way. Can I handle that much pressure? Apparently I can.
It’s not so easy as it looks
My friends and family back home think I’m cursed because I have wanderlust and I’m different. The friends I met on the road think I’m blessed because I’m talented and I have the opportunities. It was like riding a rollercoaster for one year.
Without the support from the loved ones, it’s not so easy. But also, with the support from the other loved ones, it’s joyful. Living out of the comfort zone is always not easy; living in different country, traveling around the world… all sounds fascinating but it doesn’t mean that it’s always easy.
But life is not about how easy as it is; it’s about how we can make as easy as possible. There are two clear choices how to handle the obstacle in front of us; ignore and turn around, or jump over. What kind of person do you want to be?
You know what? I’m happy
That’s all I wanted to be able to say; I’m happy. Now I can. I’m thankful for the life that I can be happy wearing ridiculous hairnet, crying over hiking up 3,099m mountain, burning myself with a chicken pot pie, visiting the most boring town in the world and even working 14 hours a day.
Find things make you happy; and go for it. If you have any doubt on the way, ask yourself ‘why not?’. If you can’t answer that, there’s no reason to stop.
Changing the life; it is possible. Take my word for it.
