IF I WAS A RICH GIRL

Everyday essentials

My friend Maria and I had an amazing chat on the phone today as we bonded over girl power and our interpretation of living a 'rich and fulfilling life'. We cringed talking about previous jobs where we didn't feel valued, we worked our butts off anyways, and we felt constant pressure to assimilate in order to achieve success defined by the ideals of upper management and a 'man's world'. As a result, we spent all of our free time relaxing to trashy TV, thinking about our next vacation, and getting sucked hardcore into consumerism (spending like no other to feel good about ourselves, knowing that our next paycheck was just around the corner). And nevermind catching up with friends, we were always exhausted. It was a stagnant merry-go-around and the predictability of it all made it too comfortable to leave even though we were unhappy. Somehow, we both managed to hop off the ride, branching into the unknown in the hope of finding our versions of happiness. And while we're not yet getting paid for pursuing what we love and have time devoted to challenging ourselves in any way we choose, we also understand that freedom comes with a steep price tag (no continuous income, no amazing benefits, and no wild spending). That being said, it feels so liberating to know that where you go is strongly dependent on your passion, your competence, and your drive to push forward, many times outside of your comfort zone. For the first time, the line between living and working is blurred (work life balance at its finest). As scary as it is, I wouldn't trade this feeling for anything else, not even for 5 new pairs of shoes (that's right ladies, I mean it). Whether this self-sustained lifestyle pays out is something we'll realize in due time. We both know there will be tears, the good and the bad kind, and that is perfectly okay. Regardless, it'll be one heck of an experience to look back on. Worse case scenario we'll both have to get another job but this time with better stories to tell and a sigh of relief that we've at least tried.

For now it'll just be my laptop, my little black book, a coffee every now and then, and of course, the outcry of support from my friends and family. Thank you for encouraging me to bet on myself. I am by no means an inspiration (I haven't done anything yet), just a girl who probably lost a little bit of her mind. But man, it feels so good to finally LIVE A RICH LIFE.