Blog 3: Freedom Ride
On July 22nd, I departed the United States. This departure signifies the official beginning of my journey as an expat, a major milestone in my life.
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Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
- Mother to Son by Langston Hughes
On July 22nd, I departed the United States. This departure signifies the official beginning of my journey as an expat, a major milestone in my life. I’m writing you from Spain, my final destination before relocating to Asia next week. My trip to Spain provided a wonderful change of pace, offering me the perfect opportunity to reflect and write.
I’m now 25 years old, and for the first time in my life, I feel truly wealthy. Many have more money, but that's only one form of wealth. My definition of wealth includes independence (Độc lập), freedom (Tự Do), happiness (Hạnh Phúc), free time, economic security, community, peace of mind, and few obligations. I’m blessed to say I’ve had all of these forms of wealth in abundance over the past four months.
Taking time to realign my life was the best decision I've ever made. My break from work felt like a breath of fresh air. It allowed me to catch up on life, relax, reconnect with friends and family, get inspired, and ultimately rediscover the joy in life.
“Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75” – Ben Franklin
In many ways, I feel like I've died and come back to life. I've grown to enjoy cities I previously hated. I find beauty in birds chirping and train tracks clanking, minutiae I ignored my entire life. This is the most joyful I've ever felt, and I thank my friends and family for making this possible.
The journey here was filled with adversity, but as Fat Joe says, “Tough people last, tough times don’t.” I spent many years as a young professional and child feeling unhappy, angry, and anxious. Many of us experience these growing pains in life and work. Thankfully, the combination of great community, hard work, Stoicism, and Buddhism transformed my outlook on life.
“Don’t hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen: this is the path to peace.” – Epictetus
Not too long ago, I was much less grounded. I resented many things: being the poor, fatherless kid in a room full of affluent, two-parent households; working for "assholes;" and feeling like things would be better if my skin color were just a few shades lighter. Today, I'm grateful for all of these experiences. Each experience, good and bad, built me into a better version of myself.
The journey I've undertaken for the past four months helped me see this clearly. Since quitting in April, I've stayed with friends and family in San Francisco, Puerto Rico, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, New Jersey, Connecticut, Wassaic, New York City, and Marbella (Spain).
Staying with friends and family kept my expenses low, opened doors to new cultures and experiences, and gave me the perspectives and support I needed to recharge and push forward toward my next life. Leaving the United States on my own terms was liberating, and I wouldn't trade these experiences for the world.
I call my blog "The Harvest," and now, for the first time, it feels like I'm reaping the fruits of the seeds I’ve sown. For the past 15 years, especially the most recent ones on Wall Street, I made countless and sometimes unnecessary sacrifices. Among my friends, I'm notorious for working instead of partying, walking instead of Ubering, and skipping meals I deem overpriced.
My uncle Tony once said, “We don’t have to squeeze every last penny out of life,” and those words resonate more now than ever. I’m beginning to finally find balance, and though the process of finding balance is filled with trial and error, I’m grateful for each step of the process. Amor Fati.
Location: Marbella, Spain
Date: August 11, 2023
