Embracing Passion: My Journey of Reading, Writing, and Living Life on My Terms
Years ago, I reached a point in my life where I felt exhausted and disillusioned with my career in teaching and the mental health field. As the executive director at a university, I had dedicated countless hours to my work, but it no longer brought me the fulfillment I once experienced. Feeling the need for change, I made a bold decision to quit and embark on a new path.
For the next ten years, I chose to focus on doing what I truly loved: reading and writing. It was a simple yet profound shift that allowed me to reconnect with my passions and rediscover the joy of learning. Instead of being confined by the constraints of a traditional job, I decided to live off my savings and take on occasional work to support myself financially.
During this transformative period, I embarked on a personal journey of self-expression and exploration. I self-published a remarkable collection of sixty books, each spanning at least four hundred pages. These books were a testament to my dedication and commitment to the subjects that fascinated me the most: philosophy, psychology, and physics.
Reading and writing became the driving force behind my daily life. I immersed myself in the world of ideas, delving into the works of great thinkers and expanding my knowledge in various disciplines. The sheer act of engaging with these profound concepts brought me immeasurable joy and a sense of purpose.
While I didn't necessarily make a substantial income from my writing endeavors, money held little importance to me. My focus was on pursuing my passions and finding fulfillment in the process. However, as time went on, I couldn't help but dream of using my newfound freedom to travel the world, a passion that had always been simmering beneath the surface.
Embracing the World: Fueling my Wanderlust
With a renewed sense of purpose, I began to envision a life where I could combine my love for writing with my desire to explore different cultures and places. Traveling had always fascinated me, and now, with the freedom I had created for myself, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to indulge in this long-held dream.
While money had never been my primary motivation, I realized that having financial stability would enable me to fully immerse myself in the wonders of travel. So, I set out to find ways to generate additional income that would support my adventurous spirit.
Through various freelance projects and part-time work, I managed to supplement my savings and create a sustainable income stream. This newfound financial stability gave me the confidence to plan my trips and explore the world at my own pace.
As I embarked on my travel adventures, I found that the experiences I gained enriched my writing even further. The diverse cultures, landscapes, and people I encountered became a wellspring of inspiration for my creative endeavors. Each new destination brought with it a unique perspective, adding depth and authenticity to my writing.
Lessons Learned: Living Life on My Terms
Looking back on my journey, I've come to realize a few important lessons:
1. Follow Your Passions:
When you pursue what genuinely excites you, the rewards go beyond financial gain. Passion fuels your creativity, joy, and sense of purpose.
2. Embrace Change:
Life is too short to settle for mediocrity. If something no longer brings you fulfillment, have the courage to make a change and explore new possibilities.
3. Prioritize Experiences:
While money is important for practical reasons, the true value lies in the experiences and memories we create. Invest in experiences that enrich your life and bring you lasting happiness.
4. Find Balance:
Creating a balance between work, passion, and leisure is crucial. It's possible to pursue your passions and still find ways to support yourself financially.
Ultimately, my decision to leave behind the traditional career path and embrace a life of reading, writing, and travel has been one of the most rewarding choices I've ever made. It has allowed me to live life on my terms, pursuing what brings me true joy and fulfillment.
So, if you find yourself yearning for something more, take a leap of faith and follow your passions. Embrace the unknown, and you may just discover a life beyond your wildest dreams.
After UCLA College of Letters where I obtained PhD is Philosophy, Psychology and Religion I got a teaching job at the University. I felt uneasy teaching. I applied for a job in the mental health field; I got many offers and within two years was running the mental health center where I worked, supervising psychologists and psychiatrists who have been in that field for many decades.
Eventually, I felt bored by the job (of been executive director...I was barely thirty two years old when I was the executive director of the largest mental health agency in the city where I lived) and quit and tried doing other things.
Nothing I tried worked out for me. So, I did other executive director jobs but eventually wound up quitting and returning to college teaching until I felt that teaching is too easy for me; I felt unchallenged being a college professor (I filled my time writing on assorted subjects that interested me).
Eventually, I realized that I have a destiny and fate. My normal routine is to read until I go to sleep (although there is a huge TV in the house, I seldom watch it) and get up around 5 AM, think for a while, and then go to my computer and type the thoughts that I just had in my sleep.