My Adriatic Adventure
Last week, I moved into my apartment in Croatia. For now, it is home.
When I decided to start my next chapter in Croatia, friends and family were kind, excited, and cheering me on. Of course, I knew I did not need their ‘approval’ — nevertheless, it felt nice knowing that people had kind words to share.
I’ve always thought it was important to get approval from others in the past. As if my decisions held more merit when others approved.
I don’t think I was consciously aware of this — my need to get approval from others. But as I replay moments throughout my life, it’s all there. The hesitation in going forward without permission. The second-guessing when a friend or colleague could not validate my decision. There were many moments of unwillingness to proceed because I was more interested in making other people happy and accommodating their needs than doing what made me happy.
What the actual F@#$!
The need to get approval from others has subsided. But not without a tremendous amount of work and, well, self-awareness. I now make decisions based on things that I value, and I try very hard not to seek permission from others when I make decisions. It is a work in progress. I am a work in progress.
And so back to Croatia. That was big. But in the same breath, it was easy. I decided to start my next chapter in a place that holds tremendous importance to me. And while making the decision, I looked to others for guidance and support, not approval.
And here I am, one month into this Adriatic adventure. And you know what? It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
