Once again, your writing really struck a chord. I love Edinburgh - I’m just not sure I love my life here (I like it, but not love love it), and I wonder if I’m getting a bit too comfortable. Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling the expat itch again.
If Italy is calling, why not answer? You could try it for a few months, get a feel for it and who knows, it might be exactly what you’ve been longing for. And if so, that’s pretty epic :)
This hit me so deeply because I am 33 and in the same season. I’ve been living so much in my head lately, overthinking everything, trying to make the “right” choices, the safe ones, the ones that make sense to others.
Maybe it’s time to reclaim a new energy and remember who I was when I felt most alive, most creative, most me which, surprise, was also when I was in motion, abroad, discovering, feeling…
If Italy or Europe are really calling, try it and come back home if it doesn’t work out. Freedom is such a huge privilege, and most of us don’t enjoy it as much as we could. Sometimes the real risk is not trying at all 💛
Oh Jess I feel you and love your approach to bring the Italy lifestyle to your day to day right now. I've been having conversations with my friends and boyfriend too that there is this longing inside of me to live closer to the ocean - and I live in Frankfurt, so no ocean in sight 😂. I'm sure the longing is there for a reason and that I should allow myself to dream bigger but then this voice in my head tries to convince me that I just romanticise living somewhere else and I should be content with where I'm at right now. I really, really like Frankfurt but is that enough? I don't know. I think slowing down and asking ourselves where this longing comes from is very important. I'm also 34 and have just quit my job, I've seen so many other 34 year old women online who change their whole lives - there's definitely a theme 😊. I think we are just done with running around like maniacs, grinding at some unfulfilling job - we want more/or less and that's awesome.
i love this! thank you so much for sharing. i completely agree. there is definitely a big theme at play! i’m trying my best to ease into it all so the big changes feel less overwhelming, but doing a ton of self reflection and mini travel along the way! ps at the very least, you owe yourself a weekend beach getaway! keep me posted 🫶
So excited for you and PROUD of you for asking what I think is one of the most challenging questions: what do I *really* want? You are a creator through and through, and I absolutely know you're able to create the beautiful life you crave no matter what it looks like!
Ah Jess, I really love your essays more lately - partly because I feel like we're in the same position as you atm. I'm also turning 34 but life feels so full of possibilities still that it's a shame to not grab whatever you can at the moment. To not settling! ~
hi riza! awe, thank you for the kind words. that means so much, truly. i've also loved showing up more here lately. it's therapeutic, in a way. PS i bet 34 is going to be a great year for you!
Jess, every time I read your writing I feel like we’re kindred spirits. While you dream of Italy, I dream of Paris! I wrote about my own experience with wanting more and how I’m holding it here:
Oh this was gorgeous to read on a slow Sunday afternoon! Fellow 34 y/o soul here, and I totally recommend you just go for it. Living abroad in my mid-twenties scratched the perfect itch for me and it too was a 'if not now, when?' moment for me as well.
Beautiful, daring reflective, bravo - Brunello Cucinelli—“A Beautiful soul, in whom are reflected all the beautiful souls of Creation, all those of a benevolent destiny - allowed me to encounter, for a life that has been joyful, you are graceful because you cherish the hope that leads us towards a new time of happiness!”
Once again, your writing really struck a chord. I love Edinburgh - I’m just not sure I love my life here (I like it, but not love love it), and I wonder if I’m getting a bit too comfortable. Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling the expat itch again.
If Italy is calling, why not answer? You could try it for a few months, get a feel for it and who knows, it might be exactly what you’ve been longing for. And if so, that’s pretty epic :)
awe, thank you for saying all of that. we are kindred spirits for sure! also if you’re feeling the itch, i’d encourage you to consider the same 😌
This hit me so deeply because I am 33 and in the same season. I’ve been living so much in my head lately, overthinking everything, trying to make the “right” choices, the safe ones, the ones that make sense to others.
Maybe it’s time to reclaim a new energy and remember who I was when I felt most alive, most creative, most me which, surprise, was also when I was in motion, abroad, discovering, feeling…
If Italy or Europe are really calling, try it and come back home if it doesn’t work out. Freedom is such a huge privilege, and most of us don’t enjoy it as much as we could. Sometimes the real risk is not trying at all 💛
thank you for this! so glad my words resonated too. “sometimes the real risk is not trying at all.” LOVE THAT ❤️🔥
Oh Jess I feel you and love your approach to bring the Italy lifestyle to your day to day right now. I've been having conversations with my friends and boyfriend too that there is this longing inside of me to live closer to the ocean - and I live in Frankfurt, so no ocean in sight 😂. I'm sure the longing is there for a reason and that I should allow myself to dream bigger but then this voice in my head tries to convince me that I just romanticise living somewhere else and I should be content with where I'm at right now. I really, really like Frankfurt but is that enough? I don't know. I think slowing down and asking ourselves where this longing comes from is very important. I'm also 34 and have just quit my job, I've seen so many other 34 year old women online who change their whole lives - there's definitely a theme 😊. I think we are just done with running around like maniacs, grinding at some unfulfilling job - we want more/or less and that's awesome.
i love this! thank you so much for sharing. i completely agree. there is definitely a big theme at play! i’m trying my best to ease into it all so the big changes feel less overwhelming, but doing a ton of self reflection and mini travel along the way! ps at the very least, you owe yourself a weekend beach getaway! keep me posted 🫶
So excited for you and PROUD of you for asking what I think is one of the most challenging questions: what do I *really* want? You are a creator through and through, and I absolutely know you're able to create the beautiful life you crave no matter what it looks like!
brb tearing up. love you so 🥹
Oh my god I love this so much and feel so much of what you are feeling. Articulated it all so well.
sonia! thank you for that. we’re in this together 🫶
Ah Jess, I really love your essays more lately - partly because I feel like we're in the same position as you atm. I'm also turning 34 but life feels so full of possibilities still that it's a shame to not grab whatever you can at the moment. To not settling! ~
hi riza! awe, thank you for the kind words. that means so much, truly. i've also loved showing up more here lately. it's therapeutic, in a way. PS i bet 34 is going to be a great year for you!
Real life can be a dream life too ☺️🇮🇹🤍
100% agree bella
Jess, every time I read your writing I feel like we’re kindred spirits. While you dream of Italy, I dream of Paris! I wrote about my own experience with wanting more and how I’m holding it here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/alisonzamora/p/currently-feeling-like-i-dont-want
alison! we so are. paris is also (always!) on my mind. i'll have to read your essay next <3
Oh this was gorgeous to read on a slow Sunday afternoon! Fellow 34 y/o soul here, and I totally recommend you just go for it. Living abroad in my mid-twenties scratched the perfect itch for me and it too was a 'if not now, when?' moment for me as well.
michelle, thank you for that! you are the best of influences :) :)
Beautiful, daring reflective, bravo - Brunello Cucinelli—“A Beautiful soul, in whom are reflected all the beautiful souls of Creation, all those of a benevolent destiny - allowed me to encounter, for a life that has been joyful, you are graceful because you cherish the hope that leads us towards a new time of happiness!”