A full year has passed since I embarked on a bold journey of lifestyle transformation. This decision wasn’t driven by the romantic notion of chasing rainbows, but it was born out of a deep need to revive my spirit, which had been battered by one of the strictest lockdowns the world endured during the 2019-2021 pandemic.

Today, I share my story here over LinkedIn revealing the essence of my choice to say yes to life. What did this involve, you may wonder?
First and foremost, a profound introspection about my living and working situation.
I began by:
Selling, Storing and Converting a Toyota Hiace into a campervan.

This transformation initiated a journey filled with both vulnerability and possibilities, anchoring me into a deep desire for change.

The prospect of this transformation was met with a mix of excitement, fear, doubt, and even perceived insanity. It brought to my mind Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity: “doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” In my case, I was determined to walk the talk.

Researcher Prof. Leah Ruppanner from the University of Melbourne noted in 2023 State of the future of work that the pandemic prompted individuals to reflect on what truly mattered to them, a sentiment that resonated with my own experience.

As the situation with work conditions began to normalise in the Australian workforce in early 2022, I began to consider the significance of my career choices.
The contract pattern had served me well over the years, providing opportunities to develop skills in various business areas. While it meant surrendering certain entitlements, it also allowed me to gain valuable skills, adapt to different environments, and shape my own professional path, a freedom typically limited to employees in organisations.

Working on diverse government projects equipped me with problem-solving abilities and leadership skills that are now invaluable in my own professional coaching journey.

As I reflect on the first anniversary of my lifestyle change, I realised the importance of reconnecting with my childhood dream of being the mentor, teacher, and coach I want to be.

My transformation is an ongoing journey, and I continue to embrace the uncertainty of what the future holds.

Throughout this transformative year, one constant thread has been saying yes to life, even if it means living in a way that challenges societal norms.

To conclude, I leave you with a quote from “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”: “To learn and not to do is really not to learn. To know and not to do is really not to know.”