It sounds so simple and so easy, but it takes guts to give up your idea (or someone else’s) of the “perfect life” and change direction. This is especially true if you or a close relative has invested time and money into a venture that once fitted your vision.
Walking away from any well-worn path can be a long and painful struggle for everyone involved. It helps to be surrounded by supportive family and friends, but ultimately the decision to change direction is yours and yours alone. Before embarking on this difficult and challenging journey, take time to reflect on your present situation and ask yourself the hard questions:
What do you really want?
Are you prepared to choose courage over comfort? By the way…you can’t have both.
If you need inspiration, follow the journeys of twelve high achievers who took time to reflect upon their less-than-desirable situations, make the decisions to leave, and then launch spectacular second acts.
Joanne Guidoccio 
Loving this Joanne.
Thanks Kath! 🙂
This is so timely for me! I left my full time career to pursue writing last summer. Before, writing had just been my side gig, so no harm done. Now, it’s an actual bread and butter situation (or lack thereof). I still work “in the real world” part time, and it’s tempting to want to go back. In fact, I was just talking about it earlier with my husband – how much easier it was for me at “the real job” – no struggle, no bad reviews. But this just reaffirmed my choice to take a chance on my dream career! Sometimes, you have to sacrifice short-term comfort for long-term happiness.
Hi Jessica, So glad to hear you’re pursuing your dream full-time. I love the Miss Tisdale books and look forward to your next release. Thanks for dropping by. Joanne 🙂
Hi Joanne,
A good reminder that the “perfect” life isn’t always the prescribed life!
Thanks for dropping by! 🙂
Great post! It is just a teeny bit depressing though, when I look at that graphic and realize that my “start-over” age is pushing Grandma Moses… But I always remember a letter a woman in her forties wrote to Ann Landers asking about whether she should go to medical school because of how old she would be after an additional four years of school. Landers wrote back something like “”And how old will you be in 4 years if you don’t go to medical school?”
Hi Barb, I also remember that letter and was so encouraged by Ann’s answer. It’s never too late to launch a second, third,…nth act. Thanks for dropping by 🙂