2017–23: 6 Years of Being Work-Free and Time-Rich
I remember all the times when I wanted to be where I am now. When I was seven, I wrote a story and wanted to be a writer. When I was eighteen, I acted in a play and wanted to be an actor. From my college days, I wanted to be with a companion who understood and lived the sporty, artsy, alternative lifestyle I was creating for myself.
Like with any worthwhile journey, I took the scenic route. I got a post-graduate diploma and worked in the corporate world — mostly advertising agencies — for a decade. I wrote and acted occasionally on the side, and I went through a few relationships with nothing settling. Just another regular life that many of us continue to live while trying to make the best of it.
Thankfully, I didn’t. In 2017, feeling burnt out and directionless, I quit the corporate job lifestyle without a plan. I started by taking care of myself — therapy — and gradually found my way back into the things I loved — writing, acting, sports, and love.
I’ve completed six years since that decision to take back control over my life and my time, and they have been six incredible years. I am healthier, a writer and actor, and married to a woman who is a professional artsy-sporty.
I never went back to a corporate job in these six years. I have always retained control over my time and, as a result, I’ve never had to work a single day — hopefully, I never will ever again. The projects I said ‘Yes’ to and their scope were my decision and I said ‘No’ to those I didn’t want. I worked on my personal projects whenever I wanted to, and I took off and travelled whenever I felt like it. My wife and I often spend our entire days together while supporting each other’s larger creative and sporting journeys. There have been doubts and stumbles along the way, but there have also been affirmations and successes.
This, to me, is winning at life everyday.
