"I spent most of my 20s committed to building a life I thought would last. I'd grown up in the late '80s and '90s, peak Disney-princess era, certain I'd have the complete fantasy: the husband, the house, and maybe a baby or two by that age. Instead, I marked my 30th birthday with two failed long-term relationships. The life I pictured had vanished, boxes checked then overturned ... or never checked at all."
"As I hit rock bottom, I realized I could stay there or climb out by doing a complete upheaval of my life. So, I sold or gave away nearly everything I owned that couldn't fit inside two suitcases. Then, I booked a one-way ticket from the US to Rome, convinced that a new city and lots of gelato could fix all the parts of me that felt broken."
"I'm embarrassed to admit I arrived with an "Eat, Pray, Love" fantasy. I pictured my problems dissolving one bowl of pasta at a time. And for that first summer, life almost matched the movie in my head: pizza every day without gaining a pound, long afternoons at the beach, evenings swept up in new friendships and the thrill of a city that truly did seem like a postcard. But as summer turned to fall, the novelty thinned."
By age 30, two long-term relationships had ended and planned life milestones had disappeared. The response was to sell or give away possessions, pack two suitcases and fly one-way to Rome, seeking renewal. Initial months brought excitement: daily pizza, beach afternoons, new friendships, and a picturesque city. As novelty faded, solitude increased through solo mornings in cafés and long walks in piazzas while working as an international teacher. Removed from previous distractions, confronting questions about identity and patterns in relationships became unavoidable. The experience forced introspection, revealed resilience, and led to a stronger, more independent sense of self.
Read at Business Insider
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