The Story Behind the Gloss: What It Really Takes to Build a Dream Life

It all sounds super interesting and feels like “I’m living my DREAM” — and yes, I truly am (in many ways).

But let’s not romanticize it too much.
Nothing about this life came easy.
I won’t say I had the usual story of quitting a 9 to 5 — but it did start from there. From a draining job and a toxic relationship that slowly eroded the person I once was.
But somehow, I sailed through.

I made 5 life-changing decisions within a single week.
I resigned.
I booked a solo trip with strangers.
I ended a relationship that was breaking me.
I left the city that held all that heaviness.
And without fully realizing it, I pressed reset on my entire life.

Sometimes you don’t know what you’re doing.
You just move — with time, with instinct — hoping it leads somewhere better.
And two years later, when I look back and connect the dots…
I’m proud. Truly, deeply proud of the choices I made.

My journey began with Turkey — my first ever solo trip. That country will always feel like a second home to me, not just for its beauty but because it was the place where I met myself again.
Nothing magically transformed after that trip.
But it set the tone for everything that followed:
South Korea, Taiwan, Georgia, the Balkans, Central Europe… Asia – 21 countries and counting.

And somewhere in between flights, visa forms, travel fails, and solo sunsets —
I started my page.
I found my voice in storytelling.
I created content.
I built something that reflects who I am.
And most importantly, I found the purpose I was quietly searching for.

But let me be honest —
It demands more than people see.
More than work.
It takes persistence when nothing moves,
patience when growth feels stuck,
and pain that no one claps for.

There were (and still are) days when I’ve felt like standing on the edge.
Mentally, emotionally, financially.
So many moments I’ve cried silently, wondering,
“Why isn’t this working?”
Or “Is this even worth it?”
When I poured my soul into something —
a post, a reel, a guide — and it didn’t land, didn’t perform, didn’t monetize, didn’t get seen.
Those were the thresholds. The invisible lines I almost gave up at.

BUT I DIDN’T & I WON’T.

I don’t know how — honestly.
Maybe it’s that last drop of hope.
Maybe it’s the belief that the version of me who made those brave decisions two years ago deserves to be seen through.
Or maybe it’s just the small circle of “my people” who recalibrate me when I fall apart — the ones who remind me why I started. Absolutely grateful!

Somewhere along the way, I also discovered another kind of freedom —
financial independence through remote jobs and freelancing.
And yes, my biggest nightmare was burning through my savings in the early days.

People often asked,
“How are you even affording all this?”
“Did you win a lottery or rob a bank?” 😛
The truth?
It wasn’t overnight magic.
It was learning how to build a life that could fund the dream sustainably.

Sure, there were moments I hit rock bottom —
money stress, anxiety spirals, and the good ol’ “what am I even doing?” breakdowns.
But even when it got messy, I never walked away from what I was building.
Because deep down, I knew — this was the life I was meant to create.
And, I truly remember the “joy” of the first sale I made 🙂
Slowly, gradually getting there…It’s a journey.

So, if you’re reading this and feeling like you’re drowning in self-doubt, lost in transition, or stuck between your past and your purpose — I get it.

I was you.
I still am you, some days. Still finding my way 🙂
But keep going.
Because no matter how slow it looks, your dots will connect too — and you’ll be proud you didn’t give up.