More than 6 months ago, I took my courage in both hands and dared finally to quit my 9 to 5 job and eventually take a break. A break of which I had been thinking and preparing for many years. I’ve always felt deep down that what I was doing wasn’t really aligned with who I want to be (Still figuring that out).  So, I tried to plan everything before and I have even done a kind of ‘’ break’’-to-do-list (which included lot of learning, reading, writing, traveling, walking, …). I’ve even daydreamed about how my life will be, how my parenting style, social life and my way of doing things will change.

Today, and this is the reason I’m writing this post, the most important thing I didn’t plan for and it is for me the 1^st takeaway from this journey so far, is letting myself be totally vulnerable and accepting not knowing things, anything about tomorrow.  This reminds a lot of a Morgan housel quote that has stuck with me ever since I read it: ‘’ Planning is important, but the most important part of every plan is to plan on the plan not going according to plan’’ (the psychology of money).

Anyway, the first 2 months were really challenging. I didn’t recognize who I was anymore. Despite having a « break to do list, » I was at a loss for what to do with my time. I spent it torturing myself about my identity, my purpose in life, and how I was changing from being a working mother and an economist to this new journey of being an authentic human—perhaps more or less— a junior entrepreneur, a financial blogger, or who knew what tomorrow would bring.

And in light of all that has occurred in the globe over the past six months, I began to reevaluate my views on freedom, prosperity, life, gender equality, and human rights. Nothing remains the same.

Having said that, this brings me to the « behind reasons » for this post—perhaps an insightful reminder to all of us:

• Allow yourself to truly dream: there is no such thing as the right time to go after your dreams or to be aligned with what you really are. While planning is crucial, it’s only relevant today. So, if you are waiting for the ideal moment to quit your job, end a relationship, travel abroad, or undertake this thing that freaks you out, this is your reminder…
• In such a fiercely competitive and overwhelming world, allow yourself to be different, and take actions that others don’t. As Adam Grant states in Originals: ‘’ being original doesn’t require being first. It just means being different and better’’. Everything comes with a cost, especially new paths. But don’t forget to follow your heart, you’re not a spreadsheet.
• ‘’This is a special one for my female connections’’. As women, we are raised, since childhood, to seek perfection: be a good student, have a job, marry, have children, be ambitious, be fit, be independent … all these labels put so much pressure on our mental and physical health that we forget to allow ourselves to Fail. So, allow yourself to fail, to be all of these or not at all. Either you want to be a stay-at-home woman, an entrepreneur, a 9 to 5 worker or something else. These are your choices, and this is your life. It is about time to stop being manipulated in the name of development. Your freedom starts in your head. You are enough, you are complete.
• I think the effects of stress on our mental and physical health have been largely discussed. Before this break, I always considered myself as continuously stressed. Now, I can finally recognize a good side of it and see the difference. Today, I may stress about preparing a lunchbox for my kid, about my doctor appointment, about what tomorrow will bring, about money, about my purpose in life… but for me it is not the same stress anymore, it is a good one, it means I am alive. I exist. The other kind of stress was when I couldn’t express myself, or control my time at work, or accept my workplaces cultures. This one is really damaging to your mental health. What to do about it? Run… Seriously, if you don’t like what you see, allow yourself to build your own culture.. So why not you? Why not us? A workplace is as complex as human nature itself… So the better you know yourself and are aligned with your values, the better you’ll know if you’re meant to continue in such a place.

isn’t it about time to normalize people doing things differently? to normalize a break in a 30-year passioned career life? failing? people seeking for their personal legends?

Anyway, I would like to thank all the amazing, kind and professional people (the less amazing ones also) for crossing my path these last 13 years of my life. I am very grateful of everything I learned from you, for every smile, word or tear. It made me who I am today, and I am so grateful for the inner peace it brought to my life.

Cheers to the new beginnings.

Kindly.