I was captured right from the beginning when he mentions grandparents and teachers sharing feelings about years of their life just passing by. When I was planning my move to Spain (before I met Anelle), plenty of people would tell me very similar things. My mentors, my family, my managers, co-workers and teachers told me how they wished they would have traveled more when they were younger, taken more chances, lived abroad, etc. Fast forward 7 years and here I am living in Australia with Anelle. We left decent jobs that we were successful in. I finished my Master's degree. We got married. The next step should have been a house and kids right? Are we going to fall behind in the race for professional advancement? Saving for a home? Did we make the wrong decision? I see friends back home having kids, buying homes and furthering their careers. I came out here hoping to land a University job while getting some international experience but mostly, we just wanted to do something a bit different.
The University position didn't work out but we had the courage to take a chance or risk depending on your outlook.
Did we make the correct decision but have the wrong approach? Did we wait too long to make the move? Should I have secured a job in Australia before quitting our jobs and flying out here on hopes and dreams? Should I have been disingenuous and not said anything to the University of Melbourne about my VISA and then taken the job for two-and-half months?
Sometimes fear and second guessing can get the best of us while stressing us out. I know I had a few sleepless nights with all those thoughts running through my head. As much as I pride myself in not stressing over things that are out of my control, I admittedly have in this situation. The truth is we will never know the answer to all those 'what if' questions. There's no guarantee it would have worked out in our favor. Could have. Should have. Would have...excuse my language but fuck it. We are here and we are happy; what's more important than our health and happiness? In the end, those are the most important. Jobs will be there. Homes will be there. Etc.
What did we have to lose? Really? An ok job and the safety/comforts of home? I guess. I'm confident in both of our abilities and believe we will get a job in our respective fields that we are passionate about back home. So we didn't get the experience in the specific fields that we wanted out here. We got so much more than that.
As a couple, it's allowed us to get to know each other more deeply while growing without any outside influences. We're stronger and closer because we've made it work. I mean, we moved to the other side of the world without a place to live or a job and we made it! We leaned on each other and we made it happen. We weren't living on the streets or begging for money. We landed decent jobs, made great friends, traveled, and our first place together was the top floor of a building in the CBD of Adelaide (which made the top 5 most livable cities in the world). Let that sink in for a bit. I will never ever forget the views we had from our very first place together. Making this shit happen took grit and I'm 100% proud of our resolve and the results.
We wanted to do something different. Part of the reason I waited so long to propose and get married was that I wanted to make sure Anelle and I enjoyed our early irresponsible 20s. I'm not saying it's the right way. I just always knew it was the right way for me. As far back as high school, I can remember my Mom telling me to have fun and not take life too seriously. She pushed me to study abroad in Italy. She encouraged me to live abroad in Spain; probably secretly hoping my Spanish would improve. She pushed Anelle and I to try to make it happen here in Australia. So here we are.
Plan A didn't work out but Plan B isn't too bad. Call it a gap year. Call it an escape from normality. A break from the grind. Call it a mistake. Call it whatever you would like. We are here and not a day goes by with regret. As an individual, the best decision I ever made was to study abroad. It shaped my outlook, my personality and my passions. As husband and wife, living abroad has made us stronger, allowed us to shape the type of couple we want to be and there is no doubt that it will have a lasting effect on us and our future children.
So what did I take away from that video? It was a type of validation; some motivation! Sometimes we need those reminders that "you're going to be alright." Whatever you are doing with your life right now, move past the doubt and second guessing. Take the chance. Push for more. Find your "bike" and simply enjoy the days we have on this beautiful planet. Lets "reach 80 and be exhausted!" Viva La Vida!