“When We Stop Being Bold, We Stop Living.” - Antonio Neves

In 2020, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought about significant changes in our lives. For more than three decades, I worked for a Fortune 100 company, where I enjoyed my work and believed that I was contributing to the greater good. However, as the pandemic raged on, I found myself at a crossroads. Should I continue working with less passion or take an early retirement package and start anew? At 52, I felt that it was the right time to explore other options. So, on July 31, 2020, I left my job and began a new chapter in my life.

The first few weeks of retirement were amazing. I no longer had to deal with emails, deadlines, or feeling like my job was consuming my entire day. As time passed, the stress that I had been carrying for so long started to lessen. However, I was also scared. Although retirement was exciting, I didn't know what the future held. I realized that I had been living my life on autopilot, going through the motions without challenging myself. Life had become predictable, and time flew by without me even noticing.

This realization made me uncomfortable, but it also made me want to change my life significantly. I didn't know how to do that yet, but I knew that I needed to start by being comfortable with being uncomfortable, one step at a time.

MOUNTAIN MINDSET

Trying something new can be scary but it can also be vastly rewarding. And that “new” doesn’t have to be a huge thing. It can be as simple as taking a walk in a park you have never been to or changing one aspect. your daily routine. Embrace the fear and then when done, reflect on the positives that come out of it. Write them down. Celebrate them. Reflect on them often. Small steps add to big change which can be a big, beautiful thing!