It's been five years since I left my full-time job. To celebrate this milestone, I’m reflecting on five things I did in the last five years that changed my life in meaningful ways. Here they are!

Vipassana silent meditation course

December 5, 2018 to December 16, 2018

I never thought I would voluntarily go to a meditation centre where I’m not allowed to access my phone, the internet, books, journals, TV, music, snacks, etc. for a full 10 days. It was intense. I was bored beyond tears. I read the back of my shampoo bottle. I went through ALL the emotions. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

But this course changed me. It taught me about impermanence, equanimity, and awareness. It taught me to remain unattached to outcomes. It taught me that the source of all suffering is craving — whether that be wanting something you don’t have, or not wanting something you do have.

Meditating for 10 hours a day for 10 full days in noble silence gave me a lot of perspective about what’s important to me. Of course, I still don’t have it all figured out, but I also know there isn’t an end point I need strive to reach.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

February 18, 2019 to March 19, 2019

I first read this book in 2014. I was deep into decluttering and I had high hopes that the KonMari method would change my life. I went partway through the process and gave up. There were many reasons why it didn’t work out. I was confused about the concept of “spark joy,” I was hyper-focused on things to discard, I was in a hurry to get it done, I wasn’t willing to feel all the feels.

After I left my full-time job, I decided to try again. By this time, the ideas from the book had been percolating in my mind for a few years. I understood “spark joy” a little more. I tried to focus on selecting things to keep (rather than discard). I made a 30-day plan and posted YouTube videos every day to keep myself accountable. I viewed this as a self-reflection exercise so I tidied in silence and felt all the feels.

This process transformed my relationship with stuff. I haven’t felt the urge to do any more huge declutters. I rarely buy things on impulse or just because they’re on sale. It’s easier for me to let things go when I realize they no longer bring me joy. I appreciate all the things I have in my life, like my teeny tiny spoon and my super satisfying tongue scraper.

Memoir writing workshop

April 24, 2019 to May 22, 2019

When I left my full-time job, I knew I wanted to try writing. But I had a loooong list of things of I wanted to try and it was hard to narrow it down. Fate led me to sign up for a free writing workshop at the Toronto Reference Library: 5 sessions, focused on memoirs, facilitated by Firefly Creative Writing.

I was super nervous, especially since I’d never taken a writing workshop before. I also hadn’t written much in my adult life, aside from blog posts, emails, and insurance proposals. I felt intimidated, vulnerable, apprehensive. But the facilitator was kind and welcoming — and I was surprised by how much that helped me to open up and share, even in the very first class.

A few months after the free workshop, I applied for a part-time admin role at Firefly and got the job! My work there continues to change me in too many ways to list. I’ll save that for a future post once my brain can untangle all the threads.

The Artist’s Way

June 1, 2020 to August 23, 2020

I’ve never thought of myself as an artist but I had heard good things about The Artist’s Way (TAW) so I figured it might be worth a read. It was only after starting the book that I realized it was a 12-week self-study program. I felt some sparkle around this, so I dipped my toe in by experimenting with morning pages.

The practice of morning pages alone would have been enough to qualify as a “big thing” in my life. But I also did the entire 12-week program… in my first ever bullet journal... which I documented in a weekly video series.

I’ve committed to and completed lots of video challenges before but this one felt extra challenging because I was putting my very limited art abilities on display. I got through it though, and I had aha moment after aha moment. It also helped me zero in on one item from a long list of book ideas I had started in 2018. And that item would eventually become my book.

Authenblissity Reset

September 2020 to September 2023

So here we are. The last big thing that happened in the last five years. I wrote a book! I came up with a rough outline in September 2020, only a month after completing The Artist’s Way. Then I worked on the book literally every day after that.

Some days, I spent hours upon hours on my book. And some days, I only jotted down a note or two. Working on this book brought out my inner critic in a major way — self-doubt, fear of judgment, fear of failure, all the things. It’s hard to stare at a blank screen, not knowing where to begin. But somehow the screen filled up and I starting seeing each day as a chance to make the book better.

There have been a few hiccups but the book is almost ready. I’m planning to release it on September 23rd. Eeeek! If you’d like an update on launch day, you can click here to sign up for my mailing list.

These five years would have passed by regardless of what I was doing. I’m so grateful to look back and know that I did these big things. Interestingly enough, none of these things felt big in the moment… only with the perspective of time.

♥