This is a guest submission from Ayngelina from BaconIsMagic.ca

People hate my story.

I had a good paying job working as an Account Director at an ad agency. I spent my days working 9-5pm and often  took 2 hour lunch breaks to go to yoga. On weekends I went out with friends to great restaurants or concerts with my boyfriend. I had achieved what others define as success.

I Was Happy – Sort Of

Many days I felt like I was wasting my energy, my intelligence, my life. I wondered what I was contributing to the world. The company was grooming me for senior management. In reviews I was being told I could go as far as I wanted.

But where did I want to go? I no longer knew and slowly the inspiration was slipping away from my life. I was just going through the motions.

Indifference was killing me.

The only time I really felt alive was on vacation. I had been to the Caribbean, South East Asia, and Europe and every time I met long term travelers, I was consumed with jealousy. I had dreams to do that as well but those dreams continued year after year and I was doing nothing about them.

But Time Was Running Out

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If I wanted to buy a house, marry my boyfriend, and have kids, I had to start thinking about it soon. I was in my early 30s, how could I continue this so-called successful life without entering the inevitable husband/house/kids lifestage?

Then one dreary Sunday afternoon, filled with anxiety that I had to go to work the next day I promised myself I would leave in a year. I sat down and calculated how much money I need to save in order to go.

I didn’t leave a year later but I did leave 18 months later.

I’d love to tell you a sob story of people who doubted me and my boss who berated me but no one did.

The truth is by the time people hit 30 they are already filled with regrets and unfulfilled dreams. People were supportive that I had the guts to go after mine.

They all had reasons why they couldn’t leave their job or chase their own dreams.  I didn’t have to tell them they were excuses, they already knew.

I doubted myself up until the departure date. I wondered how I could risk the plush life I already had. What was wrong with me that I couldn’t just be happy. I had a tearful end to a 5-year relationship at the airport.

A New Chapter

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But as I entered the airport security all the fear and doubt washed away. I knew I was doing the right thing.

And so now I’ve been traveling a year and have met so many people who also took a chance and are doing amazing things. Each day inspires me to learn and to be a better person.

I don’t think everyone needs to quit their job, leave their boyfriend, and take off to Latin America. But I do hope my story inspires others to chase what theirs dreams.

It’s incredibly scary to risk what you have to seek something new, but it’s more petrifying to live a life wondering if it could have been better.

Ayngelina left a great boyfriend, job, friends and apartment to seek inspiration in Latin America. She’s now choosing a life that she wants instead of what others think she should do.

You can read about her adventures on Bacon is Magic, follow her on Twitter or Facebook.

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