Whos given up everything to follow a dream ?
Discussion
Whos given up their job/house/partner to follow a dream ? Maybe just a journey or living somewhere else, a completely different career change, become a monk, or a hippy living in a horse box ?
What was the hardest thing to deal with ? What made the decision finally happen rather than just thinking about it ?
What was the hardest thing to deal with ? What made the decision finally happen rather than just thinking about it ?
I have. I left England with 2 bags and a hotel reservation in NJ. I left behind the person I expected to spend the rest of my life with and an amazing apartment in the center of Manchester. I was 25 and had a job offer that would allow me to live in spitting distance of NYC.
It was absolutely worth it in every way. 8 years on I'm married and have a son. Those are the things that count to me. On a materialistic level I have a lifestyle level that I could only dream of before.
But, for those who only aspire to own a big house and drive nice cars, you are doing life wrong. Life is about relationships, health and experience and I now know that all too well. I would walk away from everything again in a heart beat as long as I can take my wife and son. The adventure is the fun part not the maintaining. That bit is dull
It was absolutely worth it in every way. 8 years on I'm married and have a son. Those are the things that count to me. On a materialistic level I have a lifestyle level that I could only dream of before.
But, for those who only aspire to own a big house and drive nice cars, you are doing life wrong. Life is about relationships, health and experience and I now know that all too well. I would walk away from everything again in a heart beat as long as I can take my wife and son. The adventure is the fun part not the maintaining. That bit is dull
Edited by h0b0 on Saturday 3rd November 13:48
My parents have.
We moved to Florida in 2005. It was an amazing experience, we gave up a lovely house, car(s) and my parents had successfull jobs.
It was decided on a white sandy beach on holiday at sunset. I respect my parents very much for trying something new, giving me the chance to meet new contacts/friends and having many experiences that I can share!
We moved to Florida in 2005. It was an amazing experience, we gave up a lovely house, car(s) and my parents had successfull jobs.
It was decided on a white sandy beach on holiday at sunset. I respect my parents very much for trying something new, giving me the chance to meet new contacts/friends and having many experiences that I can share!
In 1989, and the age of 29, I decided to sell my house and everything else and follow the ten year dream I'd had to backpack round the world. It was an easy decision to make, sort of, as I had no steady partner, but there was a whole load of worry involved. But then that is what I always do: worry a lot. 
I made enough money in the sale to last me several years backpacking, but after six months on the road I got to Thailand and sort of pissed it all up the wall. I ended up penniless, after just a year or so away from home. Still, that was not the end, life went on, a job was found in Singapore...;)
13 years later I eventually moved back to the UK, with a wife and daughter in tow. Then 8 years later we followed our dream and moved back to the Philippines, in 2010.
In the immortal words of Nike: Just Do It.
I made enough money in the sale to last me several years backpacking, but after six months on the road I got to Thailand and sort of pissed it all up the wall. I ended up penniless, after just a year or so away from home. Still, that was not the end, life went on, a job was found in Singapore...;)
13 years later I eventually moved back to the UK, with a wife and daughter in tow. Then 8 years later we followed our dream and moved back to the Philippines, in 2010.
In the immortal words of Nike: Just Do It.
LOL on more than one occasion!
I married number one wife really early at 20, got to 26 in a successful role in the family business, house, mortgage, good money and prospects but somehow knew it was all a bit "wrong"! Walked away from it all, apart from my son.
Difficult few years, started my own business, did that for 2 years successfully but again didn`t feel right so moved house and job again, then again and again until it felt right.
I married number one wife really early at 20, got to 26 in a successful role in the family business, house, mortgage, good money and prospects but somehow knew it was all a bit "wrong"! Walked away from it all, apart from my son.
Difficult few years, started my own business, did that for 2 years successfully but again didn`t feel right so moved house and job again, then again and again until it felt right.
I have. But I regretted it from that moment onwards. It was 1989, and a very good friend of mine offered to swap my peanut butter sandwich, for a beef and mustard one, which at the time was my dream sandwich because my mum never made them for me. What I didn't realise was that his mother had buttered the sandwich, and I abhor butter on sandwiches. I lived to regret it and still look back, imagining how much he probably enjoyed my sandwich that afternoon. Ive never taken that risk again.
I did, I gave up a really good job, my boss said i could leave with his good wishes but id never be able to return, he was as good as his word, I jacked the job went to college got the qualifications and became a freelance photographer, this didnt work for me, I was/still am married and we had a six month old baby, it was just totaly the wrong time, i went back to my original trade just in time to save our house being reposesed, it took years to pay off all the debt, never got a job as good as i gave up.
Would i have done it again, I think so, going to college really changed me for the better and it caused alot of problems with the wife, who stood by me and this made us a very very strong couple, sure it put me back a few years but it all came out in the wash as they say, upon reflection i think i had an early midlife crisis, my advice, if you feel strongly enough then go out and get it, just make sure your 100% committed to the path you have chosen because if you arent your wasting your time.
Would i have done it again, I think so, going to college really changed me for the better and it caused alot of problems with the wife, who stood by me and this made us a very very strong couple, sure it put me back a few years but it all came out in the wash as they say, upon reflection i think i had an early midlife crisis, my advice, if you feel strongly enough then go out and get it, just make sure your 100% committed to the path you have chosen because if you arent your wasting your time.
JayTee94 said:
My parents have.
We moved to Florida in 2005. It was an amazing experience, we gave up a lovely house, car(s) and my parents had successfull jobs.
It was decided on a white sandy beach on holiday at sunset. I respect my parents very much for trying something new, giving me the chance to meet new contacts/friends and having many experiences that I can share!
Genuine question JT (aside from me taking the Micky) - what brought your family back to the UK? I understand if its for reasons you don't want to share here.We moved to Florida in 2005. It was an amazing experience, we gave up a lovely house, car(s) and my parents had successfull jobs.
It was decided on a white sandy beach on holiday at sunset. I respect my parents very much for trying something new, giving me the chance to meet new contacts/friends and having many experiences that I can share!
Fun Bus said:
JayTee94 said:
My parents have.
We moved to Florida in 2005. It was an amazing experience, we gave up a lovely house, car(s) and my parents had successfull jobs.
It was decided on a white sandy beach on holiday at sunset. I respect my parents very much for trying something new, giving me the chance to meet new contacts/friends and having many experiences that I can share!
Genuine question JT (aside from me taking the Micky) - what brought your family back to the UK? I understand if its for reasons you don't want to share here.We moved to Florida in 2005. It was an amazing experience, we gave up a lovely house, car(s) and my parents had successfull jobs.
It was decided on a white sandy beach on holiday at sunset. I respect my parents very much for trying something new, giving me the chance to meet new contacts/friends and having many experiences that I can share!
A lex said:
Left the UK after University to take up a job offer/training scheme I thought I had little chance of passing (80% failure rate on a 3-5yr course), but seeing as I was the 1 in 1000 who gets selected I thought it was worth the chance.
I walked out on a solid graduate job offer, packed up 2 suitcases 3 days after graduation and hit the road to Luxembourg.
'Left behind' my GF of 3 1/2 yrs who I genuinely thought id end up marrying at the time. Relationship made it 12 months but seeing each other once every 3 weeks took its toll alongside the workload.
Passed the course and have been qualified for almost 4yrs in NL. Marrying a local and happy with life. Worth the risk in the end and the payoff has been huge.
The detachment from family and the GF was ultimately the hardest thing. Holed up in Luxembourg over winter with very few friends, no family and the GF in another country was s
t and it would have been very easy to throw in the towel. Glad I didnt though 
Sounds like Eurocontrol!I walked out on a solid graduate job offer, packed up 2 suitcases 3 days after graduation and hit the road to Luxembourg.
'Left behind' my GF of 3 1/2 yrs who I genuinely thought id end up marrying at the time. Relationship made it 12 months but seeing each other once every 3 weeks took its toll alongside the workload.
Passed the course and have been qualified for almost 4yrs in NL. Marrying a local and happy with life. Worth the risk in the end and the payoff has been huge.
The detachment from family and the GF was ultimately the hardest thing. Holed up in Luxembourg over winter with very few friends, no family and the GF in another country was s
t and it would have been very easy to throw in the towel. Glad I didnt though JayTee94 said:
Fun Bus said:
JayTee94 said:
My parents have.
We moved to Florida in 2005. It was an amazing experience, we gave up a lovely house, car(s) and my parents had successfull jobs.
It was decided on a white sandy beach on holiday at sunset. I respect my parents very much for trying something new, giving me the chance to meet new contacts/friends and having many experiences that I can share!
Genuine question JT (aside from me taking the Micky) - what brought your family back to the UK? I understand if its for reasons you don't want to share here.We moved to Florida in 2005. It was an amazing experience, we gave up a lovely house, car(s) and my parents had successfull jobs.
It was decided on a white sandy beach on holiday at sunset. I respect my parents very much for trying something new, giving me the chance to meet new contacts/friends and having many experiences that I can share!
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff