Why I moved to Switzerland...The truth...
This question has come up so many times recently. From co-workers, to friends, to random people I meet on the street. Yet everytime I give them the same generic answer. Almost like an automated response because the real answer is way too long to continuously repeat.
A big part of why I gave these automated responses is because I simply didn't know at the time. Switzerland came to me almost overnight. From one day to the next I made the decision to make this drastic move and there was nothing that could happen to change my mind. Everything happened so fast that I never really had the time to think. Well now I've had it. Switzerland=lots of walking which provides ample amount of alone time to think.
So why? I mean.... why not? I've been unhappy for awhile now. My adult life has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs through bad relationships, family issues, and toxic friendships. But there has always been one common denominator. I have always settled. I have always accepted less than I deserved, allowed myself to be put in unfortunate situations and put everyone and everything ahead of me. I didn't realize what was happening and would always pity my situation. Why does this always happen to me? Why do I always get my heart broken? Why am I always the doormat? Why am I so unhappy? Because I allow it. I think this is something that nobody wants to think about. Its too easy to put the blame on others and ignore the big elephant in the room. Ask yourself. What can you change in your life to be happier?
Well a few months ago I saw the elephant. It was staring at me straight in the face. I wasn't following my dreams and was unhappy because I was too busy being everyone's doormat. I don't know why or how but I had a major epiphany. I thought about all the time that has been wasted, I thought about my future, and my goals and dreams. I simply realized LIFE IS SHORT. I realized how short it was and how CRUCIAL it is to savor every moment. Every second that passes us by is a second that we can never get back. Many people tell me "I'm still so young" "I still have so much time."
Okay. And?
You will tell me this for years and years and I will believe you until its TOO LATE. I'm 26. Yes I'm "young" but being young doesn't mean you shouldn't take advantage of opportunities as they come. It doesn't mean to live your life slower. I think it means the opposite! My older years I can sit back and do nothing but watch snails creep by. But these years? No. THESE are the years for living.
So that's it. I think maybe people are looking for a different answer from me? I think that this isn't enough for them. I feel like you are all looking for me to give you this great answer which will make it easier for you to also follow your dreams. But the answer is simple. It's the same cliche response that your grandparents might be giving you, your teachers, quotes on the internet, etc. Life is short. That is all. That is why I moved to Switzerland. I WILL NOT live with regrets. I refuse to. The time is NOW. It's not tomorrow, it's not in a few years. Please I'm telling you, stop that nonsense. I decided 3 months ago to move to Switzerland and here I am. If I would have waited another moment I would have fallen into a relationship, or got sucked into another job and would still be in America SETTLING.
Don't hold yourself back with excuses. You can't tell an amazing story when you're 70 about that one time when you made an excuse and DIDN'T reach your dream. ;) Remember that.
A big part of why I gave these automated responses is because I simply didn't know at the time. Switzerland came to me almost overnight. From one day to the next I made the decision to make this drastic move and there was nothing that could happen to change my mind. Everything happened so fast that I never really had the time to think. Well now I've had it. Switzerland=lots of walking which provides ample amount of alone time to think.
So why? I mean.... why not? I've been unhappy for awhile now. My adult life has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs through bad relationships, family issues, and toxic friendships. But there has always been one common denominator. I have always settled. I have always accepted less than I deserved, allowed myself to be put in unfortunate situations and put everyone and everything ahead of me. I didn't realize what was happening and would always pity my situation. Why does this always happen to me? Why do I always get my heart broken? Why am I always the doormat? Why am I so unhappy? Because I allow it. I think this is something that nobody wants to think about. Its too easy to put the blame on others and ignore the big elephant in the room. Ask yourself. What can you change in your life to be happier?
Well a few months ago I saw the elephant. It was staring at me straight in the face. I wasn't following my dreams and was unhappy because I was too busy being everyone's doormat. I don't know why or how but I had a major epiphany. I thought about all the time that has been wasted, I thought about my future, and my goals and dreams. I simply realized LIFE IS SHORT. I realized how short it was and how CRUCIAL it is to savor every moment. Every second that passes us by is a second that we can never get back. Many people tell me "I'm still so young" "I still have so much time."
Okay. And?
You will tell me this for years and years and I will believe you until its TOO LATE. I'm 26. Yes I'm "young" but being young doesn't mean you shouldn't take advantage of opportunities as they come. It doesn't mean to live your life slower. I think it means the opposite! My older years I can sit back and do nothing but watch snails creep by. But these years? No. THESE are the years for living.
So that's it. I think maybe people are looking for a different answer from me? I think that this isn't enough for them. I feel like you are all looking for me to give you this great answer which will make it easier for you to also follow your dreams. But the answer is simple. It's the same cliche response that your grandparents might be giving you, your teachers, quotes on the internet, etc. Life is short. That is all. That is why I moved to Switzerland. I WILL NOT live with regrets. I refuse to. The time is NOW. It's not tomorrow, it's not in a few years. Please I'm telling you, stop that nonsense. I decided 3 months ago to move to Switzerland and here I am. If I would have waited another moment I would have fallen into a relationship, or got sucked into another job and would still be in America SETTLING.
Don't hold yourself back with excuses. You can't tell an amazing story when you're 70 about that one time when you made an excuse and DIDN'T reach your dream. ;) Remember that.
I'm 26 too and we are seriously in the same boat. Thank you for writing this article it came right on time. I hope to make it to Switzerland by 2019 :) happy holidays !
ReplyDeleteWow, I have to say, thank you for your youtube vids and this blog! I'm 46 and facing the same situation, somewhat. I've dreamed about living in Switzerland since I did a foreign exchange there in high school, but have never taken the steps. I've been on the career track—in a career I am not that happy with, to be frank. And now, middle aged (more than likely a mid-life crisis) and looking at what is next for the next half of my life. Why haven't I tried moving back there? I have some family there, plus some friends I made during my trips as a kid.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I admire your adventurous spirit and as I like to say "getting-off-the-couch" attitude to make your dreams come true!
Wow ... of course you know I've been following your YouTube videos (I loved your last post with your 5 statements lol). But I've not read any of these entries of yours till now.
ReplyDeleteThis one .... well describes me and my past with the whole doormat thing. I'm so glad you have identified it and I pray you, unlike me, won't somehow blame yourself. It's a learning process for me and it will be for you as well. I'm old enough to be your mom and I'm just now figuring out how used I had been. I've been so broken and I'm just now picking up the pieces. I'm saving myself!!
There are some really good YouTube videos on narcissism, empaths, scapegoating, codependency.... check out Meredith Miller's Inner Integration. ��