Welcome back to the World

Vision Board: Welcome Back to the World

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Vision Board: Welcome Back to the World

WARNING: This is not a post on alien abductions. Sorry to disappoint, however that would have been fun to write about.

This is my first post in a series of words/sayings/phrases, whatever you want to call them, that I included on my Vision Board. I somehow ended up with 52 sayings that resonated with me and thought that I would try 1 post a week for a year. There must have been a reason why these words struck a chord with me, so I wanted to journal about each of them and see where that takes me. A good project for my second year being FI.

Welcome Back to the World

What does that Mean?

Road less traveled Vision Board

Have I just been on a 30 year work trip and am now just coming home? That is what it feels like. (Hey! Maybe it was an alien abduction after all.) I was out doing what was necessary to earn a living, pay my bills, and save for the future, but now with those things taken care of or on automatic pilot, I can go home.

I don’t think I ever thought of it that way before. I was good at following social norms, getting okay grades (Solid B student) so I could go to college and get a good job. I worked hard at my good job(s), bought a house or two, saved for retirement (no real plan though), got married…okay after 20 years of dating my now husband. (Maybe that was not very traditional, but it has worked out beautifully for us.) Did not have kids, so maybe that has bucked the traditional system a little there too. Okay, maybe I was not that good at following social norms in my personal life, but in my work life I was.

I had a few careers, one in sales and marketing in the high tech industry during the hay day and in commercial real estate as my last stint working in a job. I never really disliked either career, I needed to work to make money and they seemed to fulfill that, but I was never passionate about what I did, not really. Maybe I had moments of that when I would collaborate with a colleague, but I was never really connected with the “Why” or mission of the organizations I worked for. I spent about 15 years in each career and came to a point where I was just bored. 15 years gives you a pretty good level of expertise and I think I was just looking for a new challenge. I know I could have changed positions or departments, etc. to challenge myself, but I had no real passion within those industries so did not want to go down that rabbit hole.

Where do I go from here?

So I think quitting my corporate job was the next right step for me to figure out how I want to spend my next 30 years. I would much rather be doing something that I was passionate about, felt fulfillment and joy about, and leaning in the direction of feeling like I was making a difference in this world. 

Not quite sure what that looks like since I have been on a 30 year work trip and home has changed a lot over that time. I am a different person than I was 30 years ago (hopefully for the better), I have different values (hopefully for the better), but  have no clearer picture of what I want to do than I did after graduating from college. But, what I do have now is a different perspective and more of a financial security that I can take the time to figure this out for myself. That is a blessing in itself. 

So, where do I go from here? Here are some things I was thinking of for now:

  • Keep diving deeper into myself and figure out my core values
  • Work on my Whole Health: Physical, Mental and Emotional
  • Travel to visit friends and family

 

I still need to give myself time and space to explore. Test new things, experiment, review and modify. I believe this path will lead me to where I want to go. It is definitely the path less traveled, unfamiliar and not the traditional social norm, but that is okay with me. Actually…better for me and spend the next 30 years following a path less worn, more fresh and more true to who I am and what I want to do in the world. 

Welcome Home

So, Welcome Back to the World Jen! You are going to have such a fun journey figuring it out with the help of your amazing husband, friends and family to support every step along the way.

Jen

Jen

I started this blog to journal about my Post FI Life and help me process my transition from working in Corporate America for almost 30 years. I am on a journey to find happiness, joy and fulfillment. And to have a little fun along the way.

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4 Responses

  1. Jen, what a fun blogging idea, working from your vision board. I love this idea of the 30-year work trip! Good luck on figuring out what you’re going to do for the next 30 years 😄

    Reply

  2. Excellent Jen! You are more part of the norm than you might think you are. It might be one of the reasons that so many people have not gone back into the workforce after the pandemic. They realized there was more to life. Of course, many of those people are not FI and will come to the realization that work has to be an option. You are in a different situation and I applaud you for that. It gives you unlimited avenues to pursue so many other things. Good luck and keep us posted as to what you fine out there in this world.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Joy! Yes, agreed, finding balance in life and so glad people are seeing that too. I love to work on things that light me up and think most of do too.

      Reply

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