Leaving My Old Life Behind

A fresh start for sanity’s sake

It’s January 2024.

My phone screen illuminated as I scrolled through my contacts for what felt like the hundredth time. Each name carried a weight, a story, a connection to a life I was about to leave behind. With a deep breath and a grateful sigh, I began to delete them one by one.

Friends, colleagues, acquaintances — all gone. I thought about the memories shared. With each number, it felt like a huge chapter of my life was closing. The final show after a long tour. That wouldn’t be the only door closed.

For years, I had been climbing the corporate ladder in finance, chasing success with dreams of reaching the top. The long hours, the constant pressure, the endless emails and meetings — they had become my entire life. I was good at my job, but at what cost? My life started to feel empty, like I was on a hamster wheel with a piece of cheese dangling above me.

It was shortly before the holiday season, when I decided to leave. I stared blankly at the numbers and words on my computer screen. All of it suddenly meant nothing. That’s when I knew it was time to move on.

I couldn’t do this anymore. I didn’t want to do this anymore. At that moment, I made a decision that would change the course of my life forever. With tired…