The last half of 2025 was quite intense: I lost my mom to cancer, got married, and quit my job after 10 years.
One low, and two highs.
I know what you're thinking: how is quitting a part-time job that pays really well a good thing?
Let me explain.
Whenever someone asked what I do for a living, I'd say: “I work remotely, as a writer/editor for a digital marketing agency. It’s comfortable, pays well, and I wouldn’t change it”.
Then, I’d quickly change the subject. Because what I did at work meant absolutely nothing to me. It was just a convenient way to pay the bills.
Don’t get me wrong, I started writing in high school and I always enjoyed it. But the articles I had to plan, write and edit, plus the other dull tasks, brought me no sense of fulfillment.
Luckily, my brain kept sending signals. I felt a void. Something was missing. But the comfort of the role paralyzed my will.
Last year, tensions arose at work. Then in December, I was suddenly informed I'd lose my freedom to work remotely.
"I choose the path that expands freedom for me and those around me" is one of the five values written on my Stone of Life. To avoid cognitive dissonance, I had two choices:
Give up on this value, or quit the job.
After remembering Chris Williamson’s question, “what would 80-year-old me want me to do?”, I knew it had to be the latter.
Despite the global AI job loss panic, after making that decision, I felt relieved. All the pressure, doubts and fears went away. I was confident that I’d find another way to make things work.
Going for a walk, I stopped staring at the snow and took this picture.
Now, here I am, sharing my restart in this newsletter.
It's not my first restart, and it won't be my last.
I'm pretty sure a lot of us will be going through many changes in the years ahead, and I hope the experiences I share will genuinely help you through your transformation.
This week's action:
Imagine you're watching your life like a movie. You're the director, not the actor.
From this perspective, ask yourself: What exactly is restricting me from moving forward right now?
If you have trouble finding it, think about the most disturbing thing from the last week.
Share this with a friend who's ready for a second try.
Thanks for reading,
Valentin