It's not a joke

One year out. No regrets.

Thai Delight Bougainvillea in our garden in Sam Roi Yot - known for its vibrant blooms and hardiness.

On the day of pranks, hoaxes and jokes, I cross the 1-year mark since my early retirement from UNICEF and formal working life. One full year where I had the chance to rediscover, reenergize and reorganize my life. It has been a journey of finding a new way and place(s) of living, finding a balance between the regained freedom while not falling into boredom, and finding the answer to what’s next?

As the saying goes in my home country when someone retires, “achter de geraniums gaan zitten” – probably best translated as ‘sitting around twiddling your thumbs’ – that was clearly not the mood I was going for. I do however find great joy in seeing the beautiful bougainvillea bloom in our garden in Thailand (see picture).

This picture of the bougainvillea is probably symbolic of how I feel after this first year, living life in full bloom but with branches still going into many different directions.

In this first year of freedom…

…I tried to take stock of what working life had given me, how it shaped me (and my family). I am so pleased that I found room to think back about all those amazing experiences and encounters I have had working with UNICEF and living in amazing places across the globe.

…I managed for these memories to not be tainted or spoilt too much by the more challenging last years, mixing in the growing despair and concern of what the world is turning into and what is left (or not) of the great work that was done to make this world a better, healthier and happier one.

…and I overcame the feeling of disbanding a sinking ship and leaving at the time where all hands-on-deck was needed. I understood that my hands were not going to make the difference and there were many other, more capable and younger hands to do the job!

I found new inspiration, while not leaving behind all that had driven me all those years. Learning new things, engaging with different communities, has been so enriching. The coaching journey I started, mostly focusing on young professionals starting or shifting their global careers, has been very inspiring.

At the start of that new life, it is all about searching for that balance – not falling back to your old comfort zone, push yourself to learn new things, but at the same time, not losing entirely the link to the world that has given me so much over so many years.

So indeed, one year out, no regrets.

Let’s see where the journey continues to take me!