The beginning


Having trained as an accountant out of college, I was trudging my way along in a career behind a desk, generally dissatisfied with life, other than having made it in to a career that got me a decent salary, and the prospect of that salary increasing if I just kept working hard. 

Opportunity struck when I lost my job. 


It did NOT feel like opportunity at the time. For the first few weeks I was searching for a job to get me back in to the career and back to the money. Back to the norm and what society seemed to expect of me. 

I started to realise though, that I hadn't been enjoying anything about my life. I'd been telling myself 'everyone hates their job'. Despite seeing so many inspirational posts about living life on your own terms, and being able to live the life of your dreams, love your job so much it doesn't feel like work, and so on, I'd been doing all that part time, trying to cram my whole life in to the weekend (and sometimes not getting that, with overtime occasionally robbing me of one of those sacred days). It hadn't really been working and it wasn't until I was forced to stop by losing my job that I realised just how unhappy I was.

I made a choice. This is my life. You only get one. I'm going to do something I love. I'm going to follow my passion and see if I can make it work. What have I got to lose?

I was TERRIFIED! 
My Mum was supportive. She was a little apprehensive but tried not to show it, as she is amazing in supporting us all in the family, in anything we go for. My Dad I think was a terrified as me. He saw me throwing away years of study and qualifications, a good, steady and secure job, to delve in to the world of equestrianism, which I knew very well was unlikely to ever make me a similar income.

But I thought I can always go back. I have the qualifications under my belt and if it doesn't work out... I'll go back.... 

That was 4 years ago.

It's been a tough 4 years. For the first 2 years I didn't really have much of a plan, I had a few employments, started house and pet sitting, looked at doing a horse transport business, tried a little teaching, did a lot of soul searching, and also wasted a lot of time really. I decided that while I had some savings to fall back on, I would take my time and enjoy it. Sleep when I want, read those books I hadn't got round to sitting down with, and spend some time around my horses while I figured out what I wanted. And making sure it really was what I wanted and not just another path that seemed like 'the logical thing' to do.
Then I thought I better put some effort in. I booked on to some training courses and looked for better positions that would actually benefit me long term, not just for the cash. And I started to put together a plan. Not everything has gone smoothly and it's only just starting to feel like things are coming together. But I'm getting there. I'm surviving and my business is starting to grow. 

My plan is continually developing and I'm writing this blog so that not only can I look back and see where I've come from, what I've been through and everything that comes with choosing to live life on my own terms, but also so that others can see the nitty gritty of the experience that leads to having the life you want, and loving your job so much it doesn't feel like work.

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