Taking Chances

posted 10th June 2011    Written by: Katharine    CATEGORY: All Posts, Job/Career/Work, Katharine, Love/Relationships, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 4, Travel/Adventure

At the start of 2011, my words were passion and intention.  I wanted to find a way to live passionately and with intention every day.  It’s now halfway through the year, and my new words are: take a chance.

TAKE A CHANCE.

It sounds so simple, but it’s so hard and complicated.  The problem with taking a chance is that we don’t know what the end result will be and we don’t know if we’ll be any happier than before.  Yet, I realized that every time I’ve taken a chance, I’ve never regretted it.  In fact, sometimes I’ve turned out a bit happier than before.

I took a chance staying in Australia for this long when my intention was to be here for four days and then move elsewhere.  I started forming friendships and connections with people at my hostel and the local pub and I realized that I needed to give this city and these people more of my time.

Truthfully, one reason why I’ve stayed in Sydney for this long is because I met someone.  They say you find it when you least expect it.  I wasn’t looking for anything.  I don’t even know what I want in regards to dating and relationships anymore.  Sometimes I miss the companionship and comfort of a relationship but other times I love being single and independent.  Part of this journey around the world was to figure out what I wanted, but then I met a man and it all just … clicked.

Things tend to move much quicker when you travel abroad.  I met him two weeks ago at the pub he worked at located right next to the hostel.  He finished his shift and joined a handful of backpackers to a local nightclub.  I spent much of that night talking to him (his Australian accent sucked me in, what can I say?) and the next thing I know, it’s 4AM and we’re standing outside of my hostel making plans for the next night later that night.

I don’t typically fall for men this quickly, but there’s just something about him.  He’s genuine, warm-hearted, and honest.  He has a strong passion for life, big career goals, and can make me laugh from my soul.  It’s new, it’s different, it’s refreshing. I’ve never felt this way about a man this quickly.

I didn’t think I’d find a man who lives halfway around the world and has the ability to make me want to stay in one city for this long.  I didn’t think I’d be one of those people who would consider taking a chance on a boy and a shot at love under these circumstances.

Too Good to be True

But as my luck would have it, I was recently offered a teaching position that would take me away from the boy and out of Australia all together for an indefinite amount of time.

Truthfully, I don’t know what to do.  I finally found a city I love and a man who compliments me and I have to either sacrifice all of that for a job I truly love, or sacrifice this job opportunity for a relationship that may not necessarily last after my visa expires.

I’m falling in love with Australia every day, but this country is ridiculously expensive and I’m not sure how long I can financially continue staying here on holiday (while there are some language schools in Australia, it’s currently the off-season and there aren’t many English teaching jobs available). Yet, if I take this job at a language school in Taiwan, there’s a good chance I’m going to regret passing up this shot at being happy and [maybe] in love in Australia.

Nothing in life that’s worth having comes easy.

I want to take a chance, but I don’t know at what.  I can go to Taiwan at the end of June to teach English, reconnect with friends who are teaching there, and take a chance at being passionate about a career; or I can stay in Australia for the next two months, continue living a rock-star lifestyle, and take a chance on being happy in Australia with this man and this foundation I’ve created for myself.

Take a chance.

It sound so easy, yet it’s so hard and complicated.

{photo credit: matsuyuki}

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Comments (11)

11 Responses to “Taking Chances”

  • Carla Says:
    June 10th, 2011 at 8:17 am

    :) This post just made me smile………..the right answer will come to you and I look forward to hearing the updates!

  • Jenn Says:
    June 10th, 2011 at 9:38 am

    So the place that I'm at in life right now is telling you to STAY IN AUSTRALIA! FIGHT FOR LOVE! CHOOSE THAT AND IT WILL ALL WORK OUT!

    But as someone who moved for love that didn't work out, I totally understand the fear of passing up a career. I love to be that independent woman who puts her career and herself first and doesn't let others dictate how and when to live her life, but I have a sweet spot for love for some reason.

    Good luck making a decision and keep us posted!

  • Caz Says:
    June 10th, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    Stay. Of course, I'm saying that because 6 years ago I took that chance, and now I'm still living with the Aussie boy here in Melbourne. I know it might not all work out for everyone as well as it did for me.

    But I think that looking back, you'll more regret not exploring what this relationship could be, then you will regret not taking a job. If it doesn't work out, there are always more teaching jobs in other countries you can take.

    Also, yes Australia is expensive. Sydney the most so. Good luck :-)

  • Steph Says:
    June 10th, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    I always told myself I'd never move anywhere…ever…for anyone. I wanted to be independent, live life for myself, without having anyone else's life dictate where I was living, what I was doing, etc….and then I met a guy (while I was living in a town far from where I ever saw myself living– ie: I took a chance [granted, I was in school while this happened, so it was less of a chance and more of a set experience, but still])…
    Meeting him pushed me to seriously consider moving back to the area for work…I got to be picky about my job– what I wanted in the job, where I wanted to live. And I got a dream job…one that I'm sure I never would have if I didn't meet the guy & didn't move away.
    This experience has been amazing…and it has allowed me to get closer to the guy that I didn't really move here for, but am sooooo happy to be closer to. But now, I'm scared that I'm going against my ideals about not moving for anyone…
    I'm not sure how much this perspective will help you out, but just wanted to (hopefully) show that life works in crazy ways…is this new opportunity a 'once in a lifetime chance'? or is it something that may, in a way, come up again? I know its easy for me to say, but do what feels best for you…right now…in the present moment…
    Good luck– I'll be rooting for ya & can't wait to hear updates :)

  • Kate Says:
    June 10th, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    Thanks for the comment and support, Carla! I will [hopefully] give an update on next week's post! :)

  • Kate Says:
    June 10th, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    I've never been one to choose a man over a job, but being in Australia has been so wonderful and I've been much happier here than I was back in the States. My heart is telling me to stay in OZ, but my head is telling me to take this job in Taiwan. Right now I'm struggling with doing what's best for myself at this point in my life.

  • Kate Says:
    June 10th, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    I truly LOVE Australia. Honestly, I do. And I have every intention of living here for a year or so, sometime soon. But if I decide to live here, I want it to be for MY reasons and not necessarily for a man… because if I move here for a guy and the relationship doesn't work out, I've basically lost everything.

    I'm not one to move for a man, but I love OZ so much, so this decision is so effing difficult!

    Updates next week, hopefully!

  • Becca Says:
    June 14th, 2011 at 5:34 am

    I can totally appreciate what a difficult situation that is. I have been in similar positions, or have gone through it with friends, and know how difficult that is. As someone who finds it incredibly challenging to separate my head and heart, to untangle my motivations from all the shoulds and the fears, I hear you!

    I don't know if it helps to hear, but I think that whatever you do will be okay. If you take the job, then you will get what has the potential to be an incredible career experience, and to learn new things and to open yourself up to a particular set of experiences. If you end up staying in OZ, then you are taking a different risk and opening yourself up to another set of possibilities and experiences. If you and this man have a connection, then moving won't diminish that; if you decide to stay in OZ, there will be other incredible-sounding job opportunities. Without being psychic, I think it's impossible to know which will end up being 'better', and so I think it's important to trust that whatever you do will be okay.

    I am a big believer of the universe generally working out okay, and so if it helps, which I hope it does, remember that whichever option you choose you are seeking out new things and opening yourself to new challenges and growing as a person, and I think it's hard to go wrong there. :)

  • Big L Says:
    June 14th, 2011 at 7:36 am

    Oooh, this is a juicy one. Thanks for being so honest about what's going on with you – this way, we can give you love and support! My advice is to try to listen to your instincts.

    Even if you choose to stay, and it doesn't work out with the boy, there will be other great things to take away from living there – growth, friendships, a love that prepares you for a great love down the road…the options are endless! And, if you don't stay, then something great awaits you in Taiwan – work experience that really fulfills you, connections with a new culture, who knows!

    Best of luck – I can't wait to hear how things go!

  • Ashley N. Says:
    June 14th, 2011 at 9:13 am

    I say stay and take a chance on love, but that's only because I am a lover and true romantic. I love with abandon in every relationship I come into and guess what…? They don't all work out obviously, but I never look at them as failures because even if they end, I created unforgettable memories and experiences in the process. Take a chance on love, and love with abandon! life is about risks and the possibility of true love is one you can afford to take. If it doesn't work you can pick up the pieces and move on, your still young and will have plenty of opportunities in the future for your career, but maybe only one opportunity at love with this fellow Aussie:) Good Luck!

  • PostCollegiate Says:
    June 17th, 2011 at 9:54 am

    This is such a great post! I think its not always easy to admit when we're torn between two amazing opportunities – its almost like an embarrassment of riches – but it can be challenging to make a decision!

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