I love this. Something that really helped me shift my perspective: while I was living in London I decided to study a masters degree at a kind of hippie college in Wales. I was so used to the career driven culture of London. But while studying I met fellow students, young and old, living interesting and unconventional lives. Lots of them did seasonal outdoor work. Many were activists, grew food, were involved in community projects. Few had a conventionally 'comfortable' life but they seemed happy in their own ways. It totally opened the window of possibility for me to ditch corporate work and forge my own path.
"A lot of anxiety can disappear if you stop trying to solve things once and for all and just accept that some questions are meant to be asked." Love this perspective, great essay, Paul!
We lived in Mexico for a year, and my wife consistently said how family-friendly the culture was. Mexican kids would often stay up past our normal American hours, but that was because their parents worked six days a week, often until 7 pm. It was the time they had and they cherished it. Family first.
“Many people have left places like NYC to go to a tier-two city and then smaller and smaller places until they find the place that feels right.”
This is us. We want smaller and smaller and to know and be known in our community. Still searching for Eden and trying to be content where we are now.
Really connected with this. I love the idea of accepting that we don’t always need an answer or find the perfect “X”. We can explore how our feelings and perspective change from place to place and follow what feels right at the time. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing, I resonated with this ‘stop looking for perfect place’ so much. Somehow after I read that about some questions are meant to be asked and we can keep asking this question, I feel relieved
Yes, truly feel this. I wrote the article that actually coins a similar conclusion to yours here! Having been back to Bangkok, working and going through traffic during the rush hours, like I used to when I was on the traditional path, is a good comparison to what I would like to feel in my current path.
Great post! It is undeniable that we absorb the culture of the place we choose to live. It did make me wonder though if you do plan to stay in a particular place while your daughter grows up, for school/friend group stability reasons?
I love this. Something that really helped me shift my perspective: while I was living in London I decided to study a masters degree at a kind of hippie college in Wales. I was so used to the career driven culture of London. But while studying I met fellow students, young and old, living interesting and unconventional lives. Lots of them did seasonal outdoor work. Many were activists, grew food, were involved in community projects. Few had a conventionally 'comfortable' life but they seemed happy in their own ways. It totally opened the window of possibility for me to ditch corporate work and forge my own path.
"A lot of anxiety can disappear if you stop trying to solve things once and for all and just accept that some questions are meant to be asked." Love this perspective, great essay, Paul!
A special place in my heart for this permission. It opened up my life so far beyond my default path that there was no looking back.
We lived in Mexico for a year, and my wife consistently said how family-friendly the culture was. Mexican kids would often stay up past our normal American hours, but that was because their parents worked six days a week, often until 7 pm. It was the time they had and they cherished it. Family first.
“Many people have left places like NYC to go to a tier-two city and then smaller and smaller places until they find the place that feels right.”
This is us. We want smaller and smaller and to know and be known in our community. Still searching for Eden and trying to be content where we are now.
Really connected with this. I love the idea of accepting that we don’t always need an answer or find the perfect “X”. We can explore how our feelings and perspective change from place to place and follow what feels right at the time. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing, I resonated with this ‘stop looking for perfect place’ so much. Somehow after I read that about some questions are meant to be asked and we can keep asking this question, I feel relieved
Thank you for the lovely shout out Paul! Appreciate your support <3
I loved this. I’m right now in Sintra with my family for my first Boundless cohort and it’s absolutely amazing. I’ll definitely be doing it again.
oh wow! Sintra seems like such an interesting place to do it
Yes, truly feel this. I wrote the article that actually coins a similar conclusion to yours here! Having been back to Bangkok, working and going through traffic during the rush hours, like I used to when I was on the traditional path, is a good comparison to what I would like to feel in my current path.
Great post! It is undeniable that we absorb the culture of the place we choose to live. It did make me wonder though if you do plan to stay in a particular place while your daughter grows up, for school/friend group stability reasons?