Is Changing your Life Hard?

Whether changing your life style, downsizing or, as in my case, following a dream (a well as the other two points), what is the hardest step to pursuing change?

I’ve ‘given it all up’ in my life, not once, not twice, but three times.  Two by choice, once with choice thrust upon me. The first time I gave up everything was to travel the world by bicycle.  When I met people they would inevitably ask, “What’s the hardest thing you have had to do?” The answer was always ~ to go in the first place.

What’s involved?

Giving it all up means giving up your home and downsizing. Big time. Each time I went through everything I owned and sold off or gave away what really couldn’t be kept. The small amount I could keep was limited by available storage space (read: relative or friends’ spare space).

In each case, it was also about giving up the familiar. Saying goodbye to family and friends, not knowing when I would, or even possibly if I would, see them again. It was about giving up a steady income and relying solely on eeking out what I had until something new came along to fund my dreams.

Downsizing in Stages

My move to France, via international hops, necessitated all of the above. I downsized my life in stages. Selling off almost everything I owned, I packed my life into 3 large boxes that were shipped to Spain for my partner’s first wine job. We took the opportunity and travelled there on our only mode of transport left, a motorbike. (Hence the shipping of the boxes.) We then sold the motorbike and more things. This time it was down to 4 simple suitcases, and headed to the next wine job, in New Zealand. 

Next came the United States, but due to baggage restrictions we had to shrink what we had even further. We were down to  1 piece of luggage each. In the States there was a moment of epiphany. Whilst making yet another bold wine for someone, we made the decision that what we really wanted to do was make our own wine. It was a now or never moment. We decided to take the leap. And fate pushed us over the edge.

Following a Dream

Timing, or fate, was on our side  as almost immediately on making the decision, we were offered two long-term house sitting positions, the first in Limoges followed quickly by one near Chablis, in Burgundy. It was an easy decision. Only one of these areas made wine.

Fast forward 10 years and we indeed made wine for others as well as ourselves, which included restoring a vineyard. We also moved house, this time not taking the time to downsize. Which necessitated a crazy adventure in getting all our accumulated things to the new home. And taught me a lesson in that there is such a thing as too much.

It’s Easy from Here (…well….)

And then life threw a curve ball, requiring changes again. My partner and I split and I found myself homeless, not really knowing what to do next. So the first order of business was to determine what was important to me, and once again downsize. And thus put my life in storage.

I was thrown a lifeline by getting a job as a tour guide on a canal boat, which provided accommodation and food. The accommodation was tiny, a box just big enough for a bed. So once again very little could be taken with me. It gave me the opportunity to confirm that not much is needed in life beyond the very basics.

The nine months spent onboard gave me the time to dream a new dream, and the wherewithal to save and buy my own wee space. My Mini Medieval Manor. You see, I had determined what I wanted at this point in my life was a place of my very own. Add from my bucket list a desire to do up a place, and voila, I found my next life’s change.

Changing Your Life

Making life changing decisions requires flexibility, adaptability, and learning how to make the best from what you have. For me, the choice to create my own home was a primary focus. But from it stemmed a forever home for my pets. A new career as a tour guide alongside managing my online shops. Let’s add in a chance to improve my French. And I learned that I am capable of doing almost anything.

The hardest decision still has been and will always be to make that decision and go. There were and are many times I have had to tighten my belt and live on almost nothing. It has helped me diversify what I do, not putting all my eggs in one basket. It has built up my confidence, through thick and thin. I still live very frugally, after all I have a wee house to restore and wee mouths that count on me. But ultimately, I never regret my decisions in changing my life, as consequently I am so much more appreciative of what I have.

So, is it hard to change your life? Heck, yes! But is it worth it? Hell, yes!

More Musings

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