Comments on: ‘I was living someone else’s dream, and not my own.’

By: Sheelah

Sheelah — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:05:50 +0000

Thanks to everyone for their comments! I am glad you enjoyed it. I hoped to share some of what it feels like at the start – before you know where it all heads.
@Adele: It was interesting to us that other people almost didn’t acknowledge what we are doing. It is definitely easier to have dreams with reasons you can’t do it, than take a chance and give your dream a try.
@Tara: I think the ‘unsupportive’ come from fear, rather than genuinely being non-supportive. But each to his own too. Our dream would definitely not be something everyone would want to do.
@Ellen: the third option – I was booked off sick. Your website is interesting, and I admire your courage too – rather than wallow in self pity, you got out there! Fabulous! I haven’t yet figured out how to NOT work 9-5 when I return, but I have a bit of time yet to figure that out. Happy sailing to you too!

By: Ellen Girardeau Kempler

Ellen Girardeau Kempler — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:24:32 +0000

Great post, Sheelah. By “booked off work” do you mean you were laid off (as we say in the States) or made redundant (as they say in the UK) or did your doctor say you needed time off because of job stress? Your journey far more daring than anything I undertook, but I also had an epiphany after unemployment and a few other “rogue waves” washed out my desire to work 9-5. Here’s a link to my story and website. Happy Sails! http://www.gold-boat.com/crew-2/

By: Adele

Adele — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:17:58 +0000

Seems like a disease of the modern world that we’re all just trying our best to escape from….! ‘Status Anxiety’ is a helpful concept – http://www.alaindebotton.com/status.asp is a useful site, as is Affluenza – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affluenza

By: Tara

Tara — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:15:39 +0000

Just awesome. It’s true that the reactions of your “friends” and family can be so broad and sometimes downright unsupportive. It’s amazing how many people, like yourself, realize that the corporate world is “living someone else’s dream”. Kudos for you for having the courage and motivation to live life to its fullest and not become a prisoner to the materialistic world that has become the “norm”, yet makes most of us incredibly miserable.

By: Adele

Adele — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:53:52 +0000

Thanks for sharing Sheelah. Love this point – “Be sensitive, too, to people around you: when they watch you realize your dream, it strips away some of the reasons they can’t follow their own. It is hard for them to face their own realities.”