Loved this! It’s amazing how much easier life would be if we just trusted our first instincts - I did the same switching of majors in college too when I should’ve just stuck with the first one!
Hindsight is always 20/20 isn’t it? 😅 I think back on that time and want to hug that that version of me was so confused and unsure. However, I see now how necessary it was to do that exploration of majors. We got there in the end!! What was your first major?
Career changer over here too! I’m test driving my retirement (in London) after leaving a 16 year old job! Scary but excited to have time to embrace being creative.
As an ex-marketing (agency AND in-house😭) girlie who also lived in Boston and quit a year ago after experiencing the same burnout and toxicity you so well articulated…this hit. I’m still trying to figure out what my way looks like but this was really helpful inspiration on the way there. Thank you! ✨🫶🏼
I’m so happy that this resonated with you! What a small world being a fellow ex-agency Bostonian 😊 You’ve got this, one day and one little step at a time will get you closer to whatever is next. I’m still figuring it out, too! What have you been getting up to post-burnout? Sending love and strength! 🤍
Isn’t the world so funny and so tiny like that? I loved reading your journey and am so inspired by the fact that you took the leap to live in London!
I remember when I came back to Boston from my first (solo!) trip there, noticing the architecture, street names, cobblestones, and finally realizing how “New England” made sense 🤣
Time since quitting marketing life has been a lot of brainstorming my 5 million business ideas —without any real ability to JUST PICK ONE. (I went to BU but in another world I really should have accepted the Babson offer and gone hard into entrepreneurship — like you I had so many feelings about what I was supposed to do and “pigeon holing” myself.)
When I’m not doing that, I’m most likely wedding planning! My fiancé is from Scotland and we are getting married there this June 🥰🏴☔️
How are you finding the transition being in Europe? And are you working remotely or doing something brick and mortar over there?
Julianna, I want to underline and highlight everything you said because I agree with all of it so much. I always say "the way you live your life only has to make sense to you". And as easy as that sounds, it's not as easy to do. But in order for me to be happy, I have found that there is no way around it. I grew up with a deep sense of believing that anything is possible in life. Which has led me to moving abroad many times, going freelance after being laid off, moving abroad again and setting up a home with my husband and soon going freelance again and moving abroad with a small toddler. Society keeps telling me that these types of adventures are for your 20s and that at some point, I HAVE TO settle down. But I strongly disagree.
I want to bold, underline, and italicize everything YOU just said!!! It perfectly encapsulates how I hope to live my life - following my gut and doing what feels right to me (and my husband haha) regardless of age, societal timelines and opinions of others. It’s so nice to hear your personal experience, especially that you didn’t let having a toddler stop you from moving abroad. Our environments are such an integral part of our overall wellbeing! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and share this with me 🙏🏻🤍
I agree - our environments are such an integral part to our well-being. Even though happiness comes from within regardless of your circumstances, I do believe that our environment has lots to do with it. Our conversation actually just sparked an idea for my next newsletter - how much happiness comes from within and how much of it has to do with our environment? Thanks for inspiring me :)
Oh the guilt!! I feel it all the time. Especially leading up to the moment where we announce the decision. Just published my piece if you're curious to read it.
“Embrace your individuality and the many facets that make you who you are.” This is so important! You can lose yourself along the way in the 9-5 corporate grind, where you can be shaped to fit a mould before you even realise it’s happening.
A really important lesson burnout is currently teaching me is ‘wherever you go, there you are’ - so you better learn to embrace your own individuality, passions and quirks! Great piece ❤️
I appreciate the kind words! Thank you for sharing this, Rachel! I’m still finding my own way but I love that lesson that you shared and will definitely take that with me 🤍
Loved this! It’s amazing how much easier life would be if we just trusted our first instincts - I did the same switching of majors in college too when I should’ve just stuck with the first one!
Hindsight is always 20/20 isn’t it? 😅 I think back on that time and want to hug that that version of me was so confused and unsure. However, I see now how necessary it was to do that exploration of majors. We got there in the end!! What was your first major?
Career changer over here too! I’m test driving my retirement (in London) after leaving a 16 year old job! Scary but excited to have time to embrace being creative.
Very exciting to explore new options and find something that you feel more fulfilled by. 🙏🏻 What did you change from/to?!
As an ex-marketing (agency AND in-house😭) girlie who also lived in Boston and quit a year ago after experiencing the same burnout and toxicity you so well articulated…this hit. I’m still trying to figure out what my way looks like but this was really helpful inspiration on the way there. Thank you! ✨🫶🏼
I’m so happy that this resonated with you! What a small world being a fellow ex-agency Bostonian 😊 You’ve got this, one day and one little step at a time will get you closer to whatever is next. I’m still figuring it out, too! What have you been getting up to post-burnout? Sending love and strength! 🤍
Isn’t the world so funny and so tiny like that? I loved reading your journey and am so inspired by the fact that you took the leap to live in London!
I remember when I came back to Boston from my first (solo!) trip there, noticing the architecture, street names, cobblestones, and finally realizing how “New England” made sense 🤣
Time since quitting marketing life has been a lot of brainstorming my 5 million business ideas —without any real ability to JUST PICK ONE. (I went to BU but in another world I really should have accepted the Babson offer and gone hard into entrepreneurship — like you I had so many feelings about what I was supposed to do and “pigeon holing” myself.)
When I’m not doing that, I’m most likely wedding planning! My fiancé is from Scotland and we are getting married there this June 🥰🏴☔️
How are you finding the transition being in Europe? And are you working remotely or doing something brick and mortar over there?
Love hearing your story! xx
Julianna, I want to underline and highlight everything you said because I agree with all of it so much. I always say "the way you live your life only has to make sense to you". And as easy as that sounds, it's not as easy to do. But in order for me to be happy, I have found that there is no way around it. I grew up with a deep sense of believing that anything is possible in life. Which has led me to moving abroad many times, going freelance after being laid off, moving abroad again and setting up a home with my husband and soon going freelance again and moving abroad with a small toddler. Society keeps telling me that these types of adventures are for your 20s and that at some point, I HAVE TO settle down. But I strongly disagree.
I want to bold, underline, and italicize everything YOU just said!!! It perfectly encapsulates how I hope to live my life - following my gut and doing what feels right to me (and my husband haha) regardless of age, societal timelines and opinions of others. It’s so nice to hear your personal experience, especially that you didn’t let having a toddler stop you from moving abroad. Our environments are such an integral part of our overall wellbeing! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and share this with me 🙏🏻🤍
I agree - our environments are such an integral part to our well-being. Even though happiness comes from within regardless of your circumstances, I do believe that our environment has lots to do with it. Our conversation actually just sparked an idea for my next newsletter - how much happiness comes from within and how much of it has to do with our environment? Thanks for inspiring me :)
I think about this all the time, especially when guilt creeps in from living far away from family. I look forward to reading your perspective on it!!
Oh the guilt!! I feel it all the time. Especially leading up to the moment where we announce the decision. Just published my piece if you're curious to read it.
i love this. sooo many wonderful takeaways! thank you for sharing 🫶
Thank you for reading, Jess! I hope it was even the tiniest bit helpful or reassuring 🙏🏻
absolutely 🫶
“Embrace your individuality and the many facets that make you who you are.” This is so important! You can lose yourself along the way in the 9-5 corporate grind, where you can be shaped to fit a mould before you even realise it’s happening.
A really important lesson burnout is currently teaching me is ‘wherever you go, there you are’ - so you better learn to embrace your own individuality, passions and quirks! Great piece ❤️
I appreciate the kind words! Thank you for sharing this, Rachel! I’m still finding my own way but I love that lesson that you shared and will definitely take that with me 🤍