Everything is illuminated

WOW.  

I have just finished my first fortnight in my new job at Escape the City and I can't begin to express how amazing it is already.  I can literally FEEL myself changing inside.  It's so incredible how things can truly start to shift and transform when you set your mind to something and actually commit to taking real action towards achieving your dreams. 

"It's never too late to be what you might have been." [George Eliot]

I have some BIG news to share. Last night I received a phone call that could impact my future in a major way. I discovered I've been successful in my application to become the first ever intern at one of my 'hero' companies, Escape the City!! 

First things first

Ever since leaving my job at the beginning of May my creative right brain has been firing on all cylinders.  It seems that with each passing week, the more distance I put between myself and corporate life, the more 'me' I feel. I'm happier, more inspired, increasingly energetic, and have a general feeling of joie de vivre!  

There are a million things I want to do right now; so many ideas floating around in my head for projects I want to start, new ways to earn money or things I want to do that will make me feel great!  The problem with this level of excitement for lots of different activities is that inevitably I don't quite know where to begin.  Should I focus on my career transformation? Or this blog?? Should I make more time for creative passions like cooking and photography??? The list of ideas is very long and it's got to the point where I'm a little overwhelmed by it all.

Food diary: Moroccan slow roasted shoulder of lamb with pomegranate dressing

Picture of the lamb taken by my sis seconds before we devoured it all! 

One of my passions in life is cooking (and of course eating!) delicious food. Soon after graduating from university I did a month-long cookery course at the wonderful Leith's School of Food and Wine in London. I couldn't cook very well before I started the course to say the least. At uni the first time I tried cooking for myself I baked the hell out of a chicken breast by leaving it in the oven for 45 mins, yuk! Some of my close uni friends took cookery courses in their gap years and had gone on to work as chalet cooks in the Alps whilst doing a ski season. They really enjoyed cooking and were pretty good at it and this inspired me to want to learn. 

One step closer to financial freedom

Once upon a time I thought nothing of having expensive hair cuts, buying designer make-up and luxury perfume, spending regularly in top-end high street shops (think Hobbs, L.K. Bennett, Reiss etc), and even putting entire holidays on my credit card. I managed to justify my spending as I was earning decent money in Financial Services and mistakenly thought it would be pretty easy to pay off my credit card when I was ready. But of course there never seemed like a good time to sacrifice my expensive monthly treats, or god forbid my much treasured holidays, and instead pay down some of my debt. Years rolled by and my debt simply grew. When I maxed out my credit card I just got another one. When that was maxed out I extended my overdraft etc etc... you get the idea!

Quitting the sweet poison

Enjoying a 'gelato' on honeymoon in Sicily (and finally breaking my wedding diet!), 2013

I am addicted to sugar. There I said it! I am totally, utterly, completely addicted to the "white death". 

Apparently sugar is more addictive than cocaine and even heroin! But unlike Class A drugs, it's cheap to buy, readily available in every corner shop and is 100% socially acceptable. So it's understandable that over the years I've developed a dependency on sugary treats. I rely on them to perk me up in the morning, energise me during the inevitable mid-afternoon slump, and comfort me when I'm feeling bored or if I'm having a rubbish day. Of course sweet treats also come out at times of celebration (see photo above!) like birthdays, Christmas etc. So there really isn't a time when I don't feel the urge to indulge my sweet tooth.

I did it!

On Tuesday night I posted a link to my blog on Facebook and have been so overwhelmed by the wonderful response I received. Lots of my lovely friends and family took time to leave encouraging comments or congratulate me which made me SO happy! Isn't it wonderful when you're reminded how lucky you are to have great people in your life? 

My career story

Working at Deloitte in 2009, age 27 ( I look happy because it was my birthday that day!)

When I was an idealistic and daydreaming 16 year old I promised myself I would never settle for a dull career that didn’t excite me.  Sadly somewhere along the way I lost sight of this dream and got stuck in the safe and well paid corporate system. 

I worked for some amazing global organisations during my 20s and even had a great 2 years at an incredible charity, Teach First, which has probably been my favourite job so far.  But I've never felt truly emotionally connected to what I do each day or keen to make a long term commitment to any of my employers.  I haven't felt motivated to work hard and give the best of myself and this is something I feel bad about and genuinely want to change.

Home alone

Today has been my first full day spent at home on my own since leaving my job just under 2 weeks ago.  Up until today I have been spending my time:

• partying and celebrating leaving my job  
• recovering from tonsillitis
• sorting out the flat 
• reading novels
• networking with a few contacts

This is the first day where I've had absolutely nothing scheduled; no meetings, appointments, people to see or a plan for what to do.  I was quite looking forward to a day at home on my own getting loads of stuff done but sadly it is now after 6pm and I have barely achieved anything today.  Hmmm... why is this?  

Rose garden musings

Enjoying the rose garden in Hyde Park after meeting with Leah

Today was a great day!  I spent the morning with the wonderful Leah Cox who runs her own career/life coaching business.  She kindly gave up her time to talk to me about some of my fears and brainstorm ideas about this next phase of my working life.  

We spent a glorious morning wandering together through Hyde Park in the sunshine. As we walked through the beautiful rose gardens and along the Serpentine we talked about some of the things that have held me back in my career and issues I've had in various jobs.  We also spent lots of time exploring the question "what do I REALLY WANT to do next?".  

Re-discovering old diary entries!

Well life has certainly been eventful since leaving my job last week!  I spent the weekend partying and celebrating with some of my best friends which was awesome.  We had a bit of a reunion with some old uni mates on Saturday and it was so good to see everyone all together. My friend Charlie was visiting from New Zealand and it was so great to catch up with him.  I had far too much fun and ended up feeling pretty horrendous and ill in the days that followed!

Quitting my job, at last!

After finally being brave enough to quit my job, I am thrilled that tomorrow is officially my last day in the office! I have spent the last few years dreaming of leaving the 'City' to do something I'm more passionate about and at last I have taken a practical and positive step towards this goal.  Please join me over the next few months as I try to follow my dreams and be true to myself for the first time in my working life!