If you follow me on Instagram, you might've noticed that a few exciting things are in the pipeline for me this year.
I'd said in a Flaky Chef in February, that I was determined to make 2023 my year. I've always thought that I had this determination, but I've also always thought that good things come to those who wait, everything happens for a reason, what's meant for you will come to you etc etc... you could go on and on about how "life" should ideally work. Sadly, it's just not the truth. You make your own luck, you make your own life happen.
This has all become clear to me when it occurred to me that I've been moaning about my job for about 4 and a half years.... friends and family must be sick of me, I've moaned that much. I know everyone moans about work, but sometimes I feel like the pressure of my job, and the conditions of it being residential (no weekends off, crazy hours etc.) have meant that I've thought I had more cause to moan.
The reality is, this job has been the making of me. Before I arrived, I'd finished university with nothing but a 2:2 in a degree no ones heard of, and no savings. I'm leaving with bundles of experience, stories coming out of my ears, and a few select friends who I will have for life.
That's right - leaving. I have handed my notice in, and come end of June I'll be out of here.
It's been an awfully long time coming, but I am finally going traveling. Those who know me in the real world will know that I've been talking about doing this since before I even went to uni. When I finished my studies (if you can call what I did at uni studying), I wasn't in the right mindset or financial state to be going anywhere, hence why I went into residential work. The plan was to do it for a year, save up and then go, but a certain boy came along that changed everything.
So I said to myself - let's do another year, why not travelling will still be there next year. In that second year here I got promoted, but was still kind of ready to make a move... and then March 2020 hit. Plans on hold, but honestly staying that "extra" year has been the best thing I could've done, especially through the pandemic. I've been looked after exceptionally well, working through most of the pandemic and of course being supported through the deaths of two grandparents.
I feel like this is turning into a love letter for my job - honestly this post didn't start out this way... but everything looks amazing through the rose-tinted glasses that come complimentary with the end of an era. The moaning at the time was justified - there's been some really bad days, but that's working and that's life. It's been the good times that have kept me going back every year.
So the plan... yeah the plan is no plan. I've booked my first stop on my travelling tour - a 31 day adventure around Southeast Asia with Gap360. After that, I'm going with my gut. I'm applying for remote freelance writing jobs, ski season jobs, au pairing. I've got a CELTA so teaching English is always an option. Anything is possible.
"The world is wide, and I want to make some memories" - Donna Sheridan
If you want to keep up to date on my travels, follow the blog and my Instagram. Once I leave my job, I'm planning on making my Instagram public, which is an exciting and scary prospect! And any advice, job leads and guidance on where I should go are very much welcome!