Almost Happy Doesn’t Cut It
Apr

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
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
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.

Liv
Ayngelina – today is my last day at work for an ad agency. On Monday I fly to Australia. I TOTALLY get this!
ayngelina
Congratulations! I’ve never been to Australia but always wanted to go.
Jillian
Ayngelina, well put! I love reading your blog and hope you continue to find happiness doing what YOU want to do!
ayngelina
Jillian thanks for all your support, every day it keeps getting better.
Patricia@lavender-oil
Hi Ayngelina
Great that you are now doing something that you want to do.
All the best on your travels.
Patricia Perth Australia
ayngelina
Thanks so much Patricia!
Jen Gresham
I didn’t know you had to leave a boyfriend behind as well. That’s even harder than leaving a job, in my opinion.
If you don’t mind sharing, how much did you calculate that you had to save before leaving? When I decided to quit my job, we were surprised by how low the number actually was, primarily because we’re savers by nature and already had some stashed away.
I love your blog, love your story, and am always happy to find my friends are connected. Great guest post!
ayngelina
Yeah it was a 5 year relationship and it wasn’t easy to leave. I don’t write about it because he didn’t choose to have a public life like I did, although in a couple weeks I do have a post about it.
I talked to friends who had traveled through Latin America and they told me I could live on 1000/month. In the end I saved 18K and I would say they were right more or less.
I was paying 1000/month on a student loan so when the loan was up I just starting putting that and more in a bank account. Every time I turned down a dinner or movies I put the money I would have spent into that account as well. It rose incredibly fast.
Mexico, Central America and the North of South America is easy. Chile and Argentina are proving to be tough to keep to a budget of $30/day but I’m committed to it.
I’m coming back to Canada for the summer but returning to South America and will rent an apartment to keep the costs down. In Cuenca Ecuador you can get a nice furnished apartment for $200/month which definitely helps expenses.
Madhu Nair
Always enjoyed reading your posts on BaconIsMagic.
It was nice to learn more about your journey …
Take care and keep on traveling !
Nomadic Chick
I know Ayngelina’s story well, but this way of telling it brought my own situation home. What a great post!
ayngelina
Thanks Jeannie, you’re too sweet 🙂
Adrienne
I admire that you went for it Ayngelina. So many people would love to do what you did but are too afraid to take that step. I’ve learned though that if we aren’t happy with where we are, we have to take that first step so we can get to where we want to be.
Obviously you made the choices that were best for you and I can tell you never looked back. Congratulations and thank you for sharing this inspiring story with us.
Adrienne
Lorna - the roamantics
wow ayngelina! i’ve asked myself this question, “What was wrong with me that I couldn’t just be happy.” more times than i can count. i’ve known that this is what happened with you for a while, but this is beautiful, brave and inspiring on a whole new level. 🙂
Michele Welch
Hi Ayngelina,
Love your story and love your courage even more! It’s brings me such joy to read truly inspirational stories of people following their hearts and actually living their lives.
Just because you are alive doesn’t mean you are living and I applaud you to want to live an extraordinary life.
I hope people reading your story take that on… it’s the only way to go. 😉
Ciao!
Kim
That was a really powerful telling of your story. I especially connected to the part where you said “the truth is that by the time people reach 30 they already have regrets and plenty of excuses why they can’t quit their jobs. They know they are excuses, i didn’t have to tell them.” SO TRUE! When I tell people about my plans they give me a million excuses why they can’t do the same thing. We both know it’s not true, I guess it makes them feel better to give their reasons.
Justine
Hi Ayngelina! I admired you for what you did – seeking your own satisfaction. At least, you are not fooling yourself that you are already happy to what you have or what you are right now, when in fact you’re really not. Life is a matter of choice. What’s important is we must not feel sorry at the end of our every decision.
santafetraveler
What a brave thing to follow your dream. It’s inspiring.