Even as I write the title for this post it’s hard to believe that it’s already been a month. I was in France, admiring a transporter bridge in Rochefort (I still don’t know what a transporter bridge is) when I got The Call. Cuts had to be made and I was at the top of the list. I described it as a punch to the gut, and it still feels like one. I still can’t believe that it happened and I replay the call in my head every night before nodding fretfully off to sleep. But the outpouring of support has been amazing and there are a few things I’ve realized since I got The Call.
Life is Full of Choices
I can’t tell you how many people have told me that losing my job is probably for the best. That’s because so many people, including thousands who’ve never met me, know that my passion – my true love lies with travel and not what I was doing before. That’s not to say I didn’t do my job and do it well, I did. But for the last year or so I was just going through the motions. Like a relationship gone south, it just stopped working for everyone. I think it’s ironic actually that the cut came for budgetary reasons and nothing I actually had any control over, but life is funny like that I guess. But now I have a choice, a proverbial fork in the road and I have to decide which path to take. (Resisting the temptation to channel my inner Robert Frost here)
The choices are obvious, pursue another job in the same profession, get a paycheck but be miserable and unfulfilled. Or, and this is the one I like, follow my passions, my love of travel and hope for the best. It may seem like an easy choice at first, but there are many real world concerns to take into account. This decision doesn’t just affect me; if it did the choice would be easier to make. I’m one half of a couple and we have both worked hard over many years to create a great life for us both. It’s important that I contribute to this life, to contribute to making our house a home and frankly making sure that the bills get paid every month. But that’s where the second thing I’ve learned enters the picture.
I Have Amazing Support
I’m not sure that I ever appreciated just how much support I have both at home and around the world. As soon as I told my partner what happened, and stopped crying long enough for him to add his two cents his words were of support and strength. He has urged me to use this very unique opportunity to see if I can make my dream into a job and take the blog full time in every sense of the word. He could easily not have been supportive, not have been understanding and yet he’s been selfless and amazing. I am truly blessed.
I also realized how much support I have within the travel community and from readers around the world. As it turns out, most people thought the blog was already my full time job, especially given how often I post new content. But the truth is I’ve essentially been working two full time jobs for almost three years without even trying to make the site my business. But after a lot of urging and words of support, I think I’m ready to make that great leap.
The Best is Yet to Come
That’s why I know that everyone is right when they say that this is just the start of great things to come and finally I believe in me. I’m ready to take that great scary leap into the abyss, follow my dreams and see what happens. I figure the worst thing that can happen is that I fail, but you now what? At least I will have tried. I’m going to try to follow my heart, follow my passions and live the life I want to live instead of one into which I feel forced. But I’m also going to add my support to my partner and our family. I don’t have everything in place just yet, but it’s coming and I hope you’ll stick around to see how it all works out. (P.S. – Email me if you know someone in need of a social media consultant)
Have you ever been at a crossroads in life? Which road did you take?
