I don’t know about you, but I get a bit overwhelmed with the amount of content on social media. Not to mention, that feeling after scrolling through endless highlight reels of some people’s perfectly curated lives. It kinda makes me want to pick up smoking cigarettes again.
I do however believe in the beauty of sharing a piece of our real life with the world. So, I thought I’d lighten your day with a quick glimpse of my (not so sugar-coated) experience after transitioning out of the 9-5 world.
For one, building a business is a monster, and has definitely kicked me out of my comfort zone. Yikes. Rarely do people tell you about the grit, struggle and loneliness of going out on their own. And although a true minimalist at heart, I’ve had to take this idea to the next level. Let’s just say my money and relationships have been redefined.
That beautiful yoga studio I practice at daily, I now clean in exchange for a membership. It’s called a “work/study.” Who knew?! The Co-op down the street I walked past every week on my way to Whole Foods–it’s where I food shop now. And the hundreds of people I had relationships with (or so I thought) in the corporate world–most have fallen away. Funny how life works. Oh, and social media–that thing that kinda makes my skin crawl–it’s a community I'm finally (sigh) learning to embrace.
The silver lining in all of this? I’m building something on my own–based on my values and beliefs, not someone else’s. I now have room in my life for more meaningful relationships. I get to create and share my writing with the world, and most importantly–I’m able to help people be better and do better. And this is what makes all the struggle worthwhile.