2012-2022 - The Decade Dilemma

Soul-Searching Shenanigans.

“You see, doing one thing differently is very often the same as doing everything differently.”
- Matt Haig

It's mid-2022: Im 29 years old, soon to be 30. As we tend to count in decades, this birthday holds a certain symbolic meaning. After all, and according to this bio-science study, many people search for meaning and accomplishment when they approach a new decade.

If you are living a life outside the "norm", too, chances are that no one really tought you how to live it. So if you want to know how I design my life, how my "school of life" would look like - I've been writing about it on here.

👉 In case you read the beautiful book The Midnight Library by Matt Haig*; I am so grateful to feel like I have lived 20+ possible versions of my life - even though I could have used some of the wisdom and guidance of a librarian every now and then. But let's start from the beginning:

2012-2022: From an atypical fast liver...

I've studied at renowned institutions like LMU Munich and ESCP Europe, worked at dream companies such as EY, Gartner, and Google, and lived in over 50 different homes across more than 20 countries. I submerged myself in foreign cultures, and exposed traits and sides of my being that I hadn't known existed.

While most of my years were spent in a high-impact role at Google, I also founded and led a sustainability-focused startup alongside my full-time job with a team of up to 4 employees (PTEs & FTE).

It was both exhilarating and, at times, naturally overwhelming.

Looking back, I have no regrets. The experiences I've had and the memories I've collected are something I'm truly proud of. However, the fast pace of my life had led me to gradually take on a more passive role, constantly reacting to circumstances rather than actively shaping my own path.

"We all have two lives. The second begins once we realize we have only one."
- Confucius

It may sound cheesy, but it holds true for me. And this realization has prompted me to define my principles that will guide me through my next decade (and potentially even life-long).

... to being an ethical one: Re-Positioning for a balanced life.

So, I took a decision that required courage: I chose to quit my previous life in order to reposition myself.

This meant to unlearn a lot of things, reflect on the lessons learned and challenge my biases and beliefs.

I was fortunate to be able to take the time and think of life holistically: from nutrition to emotions, from working to the impact the environment has. I began to understand and respect the intrinsic value of time and flexibility, treasuring them as universal currencies side by side with money. I am getting clear on my values, and build my principles from the core.

My most important lesson: a life that is my own, where I think and act critically and in alignment with my nature is the only life I want.

The next decade? From the core.

I commit to live life more balanced, and more in alignment with my values stemming from what I believe is authentically me. There will be big decisions, such as settling into a home, acting on my abilities to create value and - if it happens - starting a family. The journey will surely continue to amaze me with bright moments, and difficult ones alike.

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