Putting a stake in the ground

Sailing into Miami

I grew accustom to working 60-80 hours a week for many years of my career.   I’ll spare the details about what the mental and physical impacts of stress and long hours can do.   2010 was the turning point for me.    Some serious soul searching happened…followed by my decision to make a major life change.

It started with a friend’s wedding in Turks and Caicos (my first vacation in 100 years).   For the first time in a LONG time, I was able to de-stress, smile, laugh, enjoy time with friends.   Then came a long sailing excursion through the Carribean.  I can’t describe how amazing it is to be on the open seas.  Amazing!   Do try, if you ever have an opportunity.    It was a major driver behind my decision.  I found happiness in the simple things in life like sunrises and sunsets, stars, the tranquility of the ocean, time to sleep, personal reading.   The very first book I read had a huge impact.  Like many women (and maybe some men out there) who picked up a copy of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love, it hit me at the right time and seemed to speak right to me.  I know, I know, it spoke to seven million or so people and there’s a movie BUT what this book did is give me another reason, another stepping stone that I landed on just at the right time.  I started questioning life, my chosen path and what’s really important for the future.

Then I marveled in major revelation.   Money and climbing to the top of the ladder (at one time, I enjoyed the chase) were no longer important.  What was?  Number one, health and happiness.  Two, I wanted to try something new. I needed a change.   Hmmm…. wouldn’t this be a perfect time to study acting?  Turned out, it was.   So, I said goodbye to that life — left Corporate America….friends….a city I loved for 10 years.. to embark on the improbable journey.   Now I am chanting “live life to the fullest” pretty regularly.  It’s never too late folks – you only live once!

Tags: Dr. Rotter, Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert, sailing