I decided to reclaim my life too and live on my own terms. I hung up legal hat to start a coaching business helping people discover their best life - Have the Audacity to Live your Best Life was born. It’s difficult building a new life but if you don’t love the one you’re living than what’s the point? Kudos to you for making it happen.
In the fall of 2019, I left a 13-year relationship and a little after that, my home country. As the pandemic started, I took the opportunity to set the travel blog I'd been running full-time but had stopped loving aside, and started a new business. I've since built a new life in Portugal, but the urge to "do it all" got me too and I burned out heavily in 2022. I'm still recovering (though I'm a lot better) and that event set in motion a lot of necessary self-development.
That's where I find myself now: with a beautiful life in a beautiful country, and at the same time with still a lot of figuring out and building to do.
I lived in Paris at 22 and didn’t want to leave but I had a job offer in NYC so I took it. Now, I’ve finally left New York after 22 years and a whole career in media. I still want to go back to Paris. This post reminds me that we can do anything we want.
I love how you took your life into your own hands and left a job that was asking so much of you. Since you’re struggling to find a permanent home, have you considered vanlife? It’s an idea that popped in my head whilst reading. Maybe it’ll be cheaper than staying at all those places you’re staying at. I’ve also never heard anyone saying such positive things about the UK! Most of us can’t wait to leave 😁
Amazing. I’m jealous and not sure at the age of 66 with 4 grandchildren that I could do what you are doing. I would love to see Scotland and more of the UK. I did some hitchhiking in my early 20’s while studying for a semester in Copenhagen. It was great fun but that was in the 70’s with a friend. We did have a Eurail pass and took the train also. I don’t think I need stuff so much as community support. I’m open to learning more about a vagabond lifestyle. I also have a cat who I adore.
I'm sure you've thought of this Anne, but have you explored house sitting... Which usually actually means dog sitting. Many are short term, but I have scored six and ten week stays in beautiful places before (Australia). Best of luck in finding your next jigsaw piece. I too opted out of academia, firstly taking a few semester-long online teaching contracts of a few hours a week and then finally being able to access my superannuation.(Scotland calls to me too 🧡)
Thank you Anne for your post. I’m a newly graduate who is currently undergoing the job application process, focusing on the management consulting industry.
As much as I am curious about this world, I find myself curious about so many others and especially within that I am always being tugged to travel. Whilst I have travelled, and do find the idea of getting a role, working a few years and taking time off reassuring so I have some sort of inkling into what I like, I’m starting to explore where to go. Lovely hearing from you.
I needed to read this. My wife and I sold everything we had almost three years ago and left the UK to live a nomadic life, doing pet-sitting and working remotely. When I moved to Scotland at 23, I fell in love with the country; there is something magical and mythical about Scotland that I cannot explain. The energy of the Highlands pulls you in, and the warmth from the Scottish people feels like a warm hug amidst the miserable weather.
For many years, I thought that Scotland was my home, but then we decided to leave everything behind. Since I left, I don’t even know what home means anymore. Like you said, some people admire this unpredictable lifestyle, but the reality is that few can handle a life without knowing what will happen next. This is a choice we are making, and the more we embrace it, the more we master it. It’s becoming harder and harder to quit.
I understand what you say, and I feel it deeply. Cheers to all of us who go against the conventional way of living and find joy and fulfillment despite all the chaos that comes with it.
Thank you for sharing! Fellow pursuiter of a life of freedom. I especially love and agree with this: "Freedom is never free. Anyone who has struggled to be free knows how much it costs." I hate when people say 'oh you're lucky'. This is not luck, I have been working hard to achieve my freedom :)
Fellow nomad here for the past seven years. I’m doing it with my partner, so my situation is a bit different. We finally feel like we have achieved some sort of balance with this lifestyle. No idea where or if we might settle down, but we are always keeping our options open. Happy to follow your journey.
I decided to reclaim my life too and live on my own terms. I hung up legal hat to start a coaching business helping people discover their best life - Have the Audacity to Live your Best Life was born. It’s difficult building a new life but if you don’t love the one you’re living than what’s the point? Kudos to you for making it happen.
In the fall of 2019, I left a 13-year relationship and a little after that, my home country. As the pandemic started, I took the opportunity to set the travel blog I'd been running full-time but had stopped loving aside, and started a new business. I've since built a new life in Portugal, but the urge to "do it all" got me too and I burned out heavily in 2022. I'm still recovering (though I'm a lot better) and that event set in motion a lot of necessary self-development.
That's where I find myself now: with a beautiful life in a beautiful country, and at the same time with still a lot of figuring out and building to do.
I lived in Paris at 22 and didn’t want to leave but I had a job offer in NYC so I took it. Now, I’ve finally left New York after 22 years and a whole career in media. I still want to go back to Paris. This post reminds me that we can do anything we want.
Thank you for sharing.. I am in similar position.. Sold the house, trying to let life lead.. but in that uncomfortable space of what is next.
Interested in these simple recipes!!
Im in the decision making phase - still running on the wheel but getting there.
Thank you for the inspiration 🙏
I love how you took your life into your own hands and left a job that was asking so much of you. Since you’re struggling to find a permanent home, have you considered vanlife? It’s an idea that popped in my head whilst reading. Maybe it’ll be cheaper than staying at all those places you’re staying at. I’ve also never heard anyone saying such positive things about the UK! Most of us can’t wait to leave 😁
Amazing. I’m jealous and not sure at the age of 66 with 4 grandchildren that I could do what you are doing. I would love to see Scotland and more of the UK. I did some hitchhiking in my early 20’s while studying for a semester in Copenhagen. It was great fun but that was in the 70’s with a friend. We did have a Eurail pass and took the train also. I don’t think I need stuff so much as community support. I’m open to learning more about a vagabond lifestyle. I also have a cat who I adore.
I'm sure you've thought of this Anne, but have you explored house sitting... Which usually actually means dog sitting. Many are short term, but I have scored six and ten week stays in beautiful places before (Australia). Best of luck in finding your next jigsaw piece. I too opted out of academia, firstly taking a few semester-long online teaching contracts of a few hours a week and then finally being able to access my superannuation.(Scotland calls to me too 🧡)
Such a generous share! Thank you so much for writing honestly about the ups and downs of starting anew. 💗
Thank you Anne for your post. I’m a newly graduate who is currently undergoing the job application process, focusing on the management consulting industry.
As much as I am curious about this world, I find myself curious about so many others and especially within that I am always being tugged to travel. Whilst I have travelled, and do find the idea of getting a role, working a few years and taking time off reassuring so I have some sort of inkling into what I like, I’m starting to explore where to go. Lovely hearing from you.
Really wonderful piece.
I needed to read this. My wife and I sold everything we had almost three years ago and left the UK to live a nomadic life, doing pet-sitting and working remotely. When I moved to Scotland at 23, I fell in love with the country; there is something magical and mythical about Scotland that I cannot explain. The energy of the Highlands pulls you in, and the warmth from the Scottish people feels like a warm hug amidst the miserable weather.
For many years, I thought that Scotland was my home, but then we decided to leave everything behind. Since I left, I don’t even know what home means anymore. Like you said, some people admire this unpredictable lifestyle, but the reality is that few can handle a life without knowing what will happen next. This is a choice we are making, and the more we embrace it, the more we master it. It’s becoming harder and harder to quit.
I understand what you say, and I feel it deeply. Cheers to all of us who go against the conventional way of living and find joy and fulfillment despite all the chaos that comes with it.
Thank you for sharing! Fellow pursuiter of a life of freedom. I especially love and agree with this: "Freedom is never free. Anyone who has struggled to be free knows how much it costs." I hate when people say 'oh you're lucky'. This is not luck, I have been working hard to achieve my freedom :)
Fellow nomad here for the past seven years. I’m doing it with my partner, so my situation is a bit different. We finally feel like we have achieved some sort of balance with this lifestyle. No idea where or if we might settle down, but we are always keeping our options open. Happy to follow your journey.
I'm in the midst of quitting my life and moving to Australia. This was an amazing read <3