Live the Life You Want to Not the Life You Think You Should
Live the Life you Want, Not the Life You Think You Should by Victoria Watts of Bridges and Balloons
One year ago, I was sitting at my desk staring at a Yann Arthus-Bertrand screensaver of a jungle with one single pink tree in the centre. I’d stared at that image for months, in-between deadlines, squabbles over whose turn it was to make tea, and meetings with pernickety clients.
My life had been spent carving a path to that desk – through school, exams, internships and determination – but when I got there it was like the taste of a cream éclair – something that looks and sounds delicious, but sits uncomfortably in my stomach. I loved the idea of working in communications for an NGO, and I enjoyed the people and the purpose, but in my heart I knew we weren’t the right fit.
Each day, as I stared at the little pink tree, I dreamt of replacing the greyness around me with the vibrance of nature, the bustle of the office with the buzz of the jungle, and the doubts in my mind with the passion for something I wasn’t yet sure of. I wanted to slow down, explore, take stock and re-answer the elusive question: What do I want to do with my life?
The pull of security, familiarity and an ever-present idea of what I should be doing made a dive into the unknown feel scarily reckless, irresponsible and wild. Was I simply work-shy? I didn’t think so. In my spare time, I was doing a psychotherapy course and writing for a magazine. I was trying to find my passion, but I was draining myself in the process. I needed to step away, and I yearned to explore the world.
Take a Chance and Live the Life you Want
So eventually we did it. My boyfriend and I packed up our home and booked our tickets to Rio. I left my job and Steve made the decision to take his career, making films, on the road. We had no idea how long we’d be gone for, where we’d go beyond Brazil, or what I’d do for work – but we knew it was the right decision.
Twelve months later and I’m writing this from a roof terrace in Mexico, surrounded by the jungle and with the sound of waves rolling in the distance. This morning I taught my morning yoga class and for the rest of the day I’ll be writing and working on my blogs before meeting friends for sunset. We’ve decided to stay here for several months, making a temporary home in-between our travels. It’s the life of a digital nomad and we’re enjoying it wholeheartedly.
The past year has been magnificent. We’ve been through seven countries in Latin America, from Patagonia up to the pacific coast of Mexico. We’ve gasped at glaciers, marveled at whales, danced wildly and laughed with great new friends. We’ve also argued, cried, feared, and had moments of troubled doubts. It hasn’t all been highs and it hasn’t all been play. On many days we’ve worked more than 12 hours, but that has been our choice. We are living the way we choose to.
This idea of living the way you want to want to rather than the way you think you should, has become my mantra. I realized it during a speech by Dave and Deb at a travel blogging conference in Porto earlier this year. Their enthusiasm and energy helped inspire me to find the courage to follow my own passions. It can be a risky and uncertain path, but I think the rewards are certainly worth it.
Victoria and Steve
Through travelling and stepping outside of our comfort zone, the world has re-opened itself to us. The possibilities feel endless and we take them one by one. Last year, if you had told me I would be teaching yoga now and have a successful travel blog, I wouldn’t have believed you. I didn’t have that faith in myself. Ask me now what I’ll be doing in a year’s time and I really have no idea – but one thing is sure. Instead of daydreaming of a life I want, I intend to continue living the life I want to, taking it day by day and not being afraid to change things when they no longer work – no matter how long it took to get there. And therewith is my new year’s resolution. I’d love to hear yours too.
Have a great 2013!
Make this the year to Live the Life you Want, not the life you think you should.
Victoria is a writer and yoga teacher who blogs at Bridges and Balloons and The Vegetarian Travel Guide with her filmmaker boyfriend Steve. Together they travel, work and ponder their way around the world. Currently they are living in San Pancho in Mexico.
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Well said! Life is for the living, and far too short to be trapped doing what is expected. Good for you guys on showing others it can be done, and actually doing it! I am sitting at a crossroads myself right now. Torn between following my heart and taking care of the hearts of those who mean the most to me! (My father, while he is starting to accept my wandering ways, is still happiest when I am gainfully employed by a big and established company – regardless of happy factor!)
Never have I been so happy as on the road. Back from another 3 month adventure and interviewing with those big companies, I find it tough…my heart isn’t in it! Perhaps this will be the last round…work for another year, save, consolidate my junk and hit the road! As you guys have shown, it is doable! Thanks for the reminder!
Anita, I’m pleased the article was useful to you. Although it’s always tempting to live our lives to please those who mean a lot to us, I don’t think it’s worth sacrificing one’s own happiness for. Ultimately, if you choose something that makes you unhappy, it will likely make your loved ones unhappy too. I’m a firm believer that happiness creates happiness. Listen to your heart. I wish you all the best.
Congratulations on finding the fulfilling life that so many people dream of! As I work on a similar path myself, stories like yours are certainly an inspiration.
Thanks Britany. I’m pleased we were able to inspire
Best of luck to you too!
I love your photos! Thanks for sharing your story. I think that it seems harder to travel as a couple. I always felt the digital nomad lifestyle was more for singles and hook ups but I do prefer it the other way around!
We agree with you Janet, we prefer it the other way around too. Travel as a couple is one of the most special things in life. I love sharing sunsets, adventures and simple moments with my husband and it is clear that Victoria and Steve love being together too.
Dave and Deb are spot on. Steve and I love travelling as a couple. We count ourselves lucky every day that we are able to do this together. We’ve both travelled separately by ourselves, and while that was fun, we certainly prefer being able to share everything now. Rather than making travelling more difficult, I think it makes it easier – being able to share responsibilities.
Inspiring article to start off 2013
Best wishes for a great New Year to you both!
Thanks Salika! Happy New Year to you too!
And to you too Salika, thank you for stopping by.
I think this is a great article, but my takeaways may be different than most. As I started thinking about taking time off from my career to travel, I read more and more travel blogs and posts by people telling me I should travel – that the 3-4 weeks of vacation I had been taking every year wasn’t enough and that I should travel long-term. I eventually jumped on the bandwagon and took off for 13 months but realized over time that it wasn’t for me. I missed my friendships at home and I missed the routine and stability of a full-time job. Not everyone needs that but I do.
For me, the life I want is not a continuous life on the road. The life I want is one with a full-time job, with strong relationships at home, getting to see my niece and nephew regularly and taking occasional trips overseas that I will probably appreciate much more.
Hi Katie, I’m so pleased you worked out what is important to you. I definitely don’t think a life of travel is for everyone. Steve and I love it right now, but that’s not to say we’ll be moving forever. We take it day by day, but always try to make sure we’re doing what works for us, rather than what we think should work. The answer to that will be different for everyone, and I’m delighted you found yours! All the best for 2013.
I’ve been reading numerous articles with this theme. Live your passion. Live your ultimate life. Do you dreams. I have a good idea what I’d do differently, but I still need income.
And if I move to Europe suddenly my savings is worth 30% less.
So, does your film maker partner know of anyone who needs a traveling professional makeuparist/stylist/ production coordinator/ blogger/photographer?
Congrats! on your new life!
Thank you Penny. I wish I could say that Steve knows of someone who needs help, He doesn’t, but I’m sure you can find someone who does. Living your dreams can be tricky, but I think that ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’. Good luck with everything.
i felt this when i read it. Sacha and I can really relate to your story. We moved to Thailand to chase our dream to be traveling film makers and it was the best decision we ever made. good luck in everything you do guys.
J & S
Thanks Jmayel and Sacha! That’s awesome that you’re living your dream! Congratulations and good luck to you too!
YES VICTORIA!!!
I’ll be right with, not long now… !!!
x
Thanks Max! I look forward to it
This is really inspiring, unless you open up to the world, you will not have a world of possibilities opened to you. Teaching Yoga and a popular travel blog, god knows what else will follow.
Aw, thank you. I have no idea what 2013 will bring but I intend to continue staying true to myself. I must admit, it’s a constant struggle not to succumb to old habits, but the rewards are very much worth it. Mindfulness is my mantra. All the best for 2013.
Great thoughts! I will keep these tips in my life and try to live with your thoughts. Thanks for sharing such a nice thoughts with people who really did not know these things.
Hi Dave/Deb,
Like always, your stories are true inspiration for fellow travelers…. you guys are a modern example of following our passion… Happy New year and may it bring more and more travel…
Regards
Rahul
Thank you, and Happy New year to you too! I love sharing stories like Victoria’s as well so that people know that other people can do it and have done it too. there are so many inspiring stories including yours! – I love your rock climbing article and photos. I gotta get to Dhauj All the best.
Well said. I think i have struggled to justify why i want to travel so much, but often it is just because it makes me happy!
Cheers
Duncan
And well said to you too Duncan. Doing what makes you happy is so important. Many people don’t make that choice and I don’t know why. As Victoria said…they seem to live the life they think they should. If more people did what makes them happy, there would be many more content people in this world.
Thank you! I’m pleased this resonated with you. All the best for 2013, and happy travels!
Congratulations Victoria! I loved reading this – not only because it’s a really inspiring story, but also because I had a very similar journey myself just a few years ago. My equivalent to your pink tree screensaver was a poster on the London Underground. It said “If you’re not happy with your life, you can change it!” – simple, obvious even. I saw that poster every day for months and every time I read those words, it became clearer that I needed to make a change. I ended up following a very similar route to you – from Patagonia in the south, up to Mexico in the North. I ended up settling permanently in Rio and now have a new, fulfilled life that makes me happy.
I think the key lesson we both learnt is that if things don’t feel right then they’re not and you need to change something. I hope you guys are still enjoying Mexico – it was one of my favourite countries in Latin America.
Hi Tom, congratulations. I love the message of your screen saver and I love that you followed through. And lucky you now living in Rio permanently. You really are living the dream. Well said…If things don’t feel right, they’re not so change something. Words to live by.
Hi Tom, I’m delighted you enjoyed the piece – and it’s great to hear from someone who did that same commute as me, and had the same thoughts! As I write this from Mexico, those days of being afraid to make a change seem very far away. That’s awesome you’ve settled in Rio. It’s one of my favourite cities so far. We have also fallen very hard for Mexico and will be staying in a beautiful little town called San Pancho for the next few months. Thanks again for commenting and congratulations to you too for taking the plunge and making changes. It’s great to hear you’re happy
Beautiful post. Even if living the life you want may at times be just a dream given the circumstances and other responsibilities acquired in life…I guess one can feed your brain to think the the life you think you should is the same as the life you want…
Thanks David. It’s true that responsibilities and other circumstances often come into play. The important thing, in my mind, is to do what you want to with your circumstances, rather than getting caught up in what you think you should be doing. All the best for 2013.
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Well written, as always, Victoria.
It’s the sentiment for many of us travellers and adventurers. One day you just get tired of doing things the way people want.
After returning from a year on the road myself (and planning many years more), I get it even now… even after I proved that I wasn’t one for following the normal route.
“When are you going to get a job?” etc.
Some just can’t see the forest through the trees. Inspiring post.
Ian [EagerExistence] recently posted..Part 1: My First Couch Surfing Experience (in Europe)
Thank you Ian. I’m so pleased you enjoyed it! The whole “When are you going to get a job?” question is indeed very annoying – especially when you’re working crazy hours! I guess the important thing is to always know in your heart the reality and to be happy in that.
Victoria | Bridges and Balloons recently posted..Selaron Interview: If I had a Superpower