After the amazing video of Fabien about his wonderful around the world travel, I come back to you with a different topic.
If you follow a little bit my blog you already know that I am an engineer from Greece who is working to build a business. To discover more my adventure in Greece I invite you to read that article.
For the past 5 years I had been working in Paris in a big telecommunication company. On December 2011 I decided to quit my job and life in Paris and go to Chios, in Greece.
When I say my story to Greek people they always ask me:
But why have you left everything? Why have you come here especially in this difficult period?
My answer is always the same:
I got tired of my life and job in Paris. If I want to briefly describe my life in Paris, I would use the famous phrase: “metro – boulot – dodo”.
This is a common expression, which is used by Parisian people. It means “subway – work – sleep” which basically describes the main activities of a common day in Paris if you have a job in a company. You spend a lot of hours in the subway, you work a lot and at the end of the day you sleep!
In addition to that, I got tired of the grey Parisian weather.
Can you imagine being in Paris in the middle of August (summer for the north hemisphere) and wearing a coat? I am not kidding you! For someone who is from Greece, where the sky is blue almost all around the year, the Parisian weather sucks!
Anyway, that was before.
What about now?
Now, I am in Chios and I work like a crazy, day and night but I don’t have an income yet! Off course I have the sunny blue sky above my head and I enjoy the sea when it is hot.
The path I chose is not easy at all. It happens to me quite often to lose my hope. I know I am not supposed to lose my hope. The majority of the blog posts that I read advise people to keep their hope, to fight for their dreams, to continue, to be patient…Because failure is the only way to reach the success. Because failure makes winners and defeats losers….
Well Yes, that is correct.
But there are some days where I wake up and I am not optimistic. I lose my hope. Everything is black. I compare my life today with the life I had a year ago about now and I cannot see clearly my destination…
I forget the destination
That is the biggest mistake an entrepreneur can make.
I have already mentioned in my article World Around Trip: One Year Ago Today that I am not good to give advice. Then, some of you said that is not true.
What I understand now is that sometimes I give advice to others mostly because I need to give advice to myself too!
I need some encouragement. I need somebody to give me hope. I need to focus on my destination, to find and continue my path.
I am sure I am not alone. There are many other people who work the same way.
The only thing that comes to my mind today is the poem of Constantine Kavafy, Ithaca.
The only thing I can give to my readers and myself today is the poem of Constantine Kavafy, Ithaca
Odysseus was the king of Ithaca. He left his home, wife and family to participate in the Trojan War.
At the end of the war, Odysseus was alive and his only dream was to go back to his home country, the Island of Ithaca. The great poet Constantine Kavafy wrote the poem of Ithaca to describe the numerous adventures of Odysseus while he was trying to reach Ithaca.
Even if he faced many difficulties, dangers and monsters, Odysseus has never forget his home. His destination was always in his mind. He has never given up.
And off course after many years of travel he reached his destination.
BY CONSTANTIVE CAVAFY, ALEXANDRIA 1911
As you set out on your journey to Ithaki,
wish that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops
the angry Poseidon don’t be afraid,
you will never meet these in your way
if your thoughts are raised high,
if a fine emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you don’t carry them within you,
if your soul does not set them up before you.
Wish that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many when,
with such pleasure, such joy,
you enter ports never seen before;
Stop at the Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
As many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from those who know.
Always keep Ithaki in your mind.
Arriving there is your destination.
But don’t hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years
And you are old when you anchor on the island,
rich with all you have gained along your way,
Not expecting Ithaki to offer you treasures.
Ithaki gave you the beautiful journey.
Without her you wouldn’t have set out.
She has nothing more to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaki has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must have already understood what Ithakes mean.
You can definitely find the meaning of that poem and how this can help you if you lose your hope.
That is what I do when I lose my hope: I think of Odysseus, I remind myself the destination. The road is long but it is worth it! What it really counts is the journey!
Do you sometimes lose your hope? What do you do then?
These feelings you have are things i can relate to. You know i’m in the same boat here in France. working like crazy to get a business off the ground that will support me and my family that also supports the kind of life i want to live.
To keep me going i often have to take a step back to look at the big picture. To re align my goals and reset to make sure i keep pushing forward.
I have family members who think i am crazy. They thought i was crazy the first time i quit my job to teach myself how to run an ebay business. But then one year later that business got me hired at a company where i made six figures and then they thought i was brilliant. So i just block them out..
It’s comforting to know that there are other people out there that like to work the same way that we do and i have no doubt that you will succeed at your goals…
p.s.
totally off topic but in August we are moving from Marseille to a new city in France. For one month we have no home and we were thinkig of going to Greece for a month. It has to be cheap to fly to (for a family of five). We have to be able to rent a home or somethign near the beach for less than 1,000 euros a month. Any ideas? It doesn’t just have to be in Greece. really anywhere in europe and where there is no civil war going on..
Annie Andre recently posted..What is A Career Break And Why Should You Care?
Hi Annie,
Thank you very much for this comment. Yes I know you are in the same boat and I can understand the difficulties.
Take a step back to look at the big picture is a very good way to face with the days that you lose your hope. Because that way you remind you the reasons why you make all these efforts. It is what we call in French “prendre du recul”…
I didn’t know about your adventure with ebay. Well, I guess you have already made your proof. I am sure you and your family are going to find your way in France or in any other country you choose to go and live. It is a very big decision to move with your family. You have the courage and the will and I don’t have second thoughts about your success!
P.S About your question: Could you please let me know which month you have no home and you want to find a place to stay? I am asking that because August is the high season for almost all the south european countries. Everybody is on holidays and that make prices go up.
I though about some options for you:
- Corsica : It is an Island which officially is a part of France. It is just in front of Marseille and you could go there by boat. The thing is that on August (if it is the month you are looking for a place), all French people are on holidays and it will be difficult to find a home with an affordable price. Corsica is a very beautiful Island but it is quite expensive. It is very easy to rent a home to stay for a month (once again it is harder in August) with all the necessary equipment in order to cook and do everything as in a normal home. But (the big but), life is expensive. When I went in Corsica I found the prices were at the same level as the prices in Paris. Off course that depends on what you are doing. For instance, if you don’t eat every day at the restaurant, it is much better.
- Sardinia: it is another alternative. I think this is an italian island. It is near Corsica. I have never been there but I have heard good comments about that place. You should check out if you can go by boat from Marseille port.
- Greece: Well, the normal way to go to Greece from Marseille is by train+plane. You can go by train from Marseille to Paris and then take the plane. Especially during summer time there are charters and you may find good prices to go to a specific destination (ex Rhode island, Corfu, Crete). But the charters usually go to the most touristic destinations and so where the prices are higher. Once again August is the peak of the summer. So I would suggest you to go in a not very “famous” place. Some islands such as Skopelos or Alonissos are magnificent and I think a little bit less touristic than Santorine, Mykonos, Amorgos (islands of Cyclades).
Another alternative is to go to the north of Greece. For instance the region of Thessaloniki, Chalkidiki is amazing.
Well, I think we could chat, or exchange by email to let me know a little bit more about your situation.
In my opinion, Greece is cheaper than France especially if you want to rent a house for a whole month. The summer period (August) is an important factor that you have to take into account. Other countries such as Italy or Croatia are alternatives. I haven’t been there but there are amazing places too. Please feel free to email me or chat on skype.
Thanks a lot for your comment. I appreciate your support.
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
Lenia,
wow thank you for taking the time to answer my question.. You gave me some good ideas.
Let’s see, we are homeless the month of August. I hadn’t thought about the fact that all the french people will be looking for a place to go to also because of the holiday. Darn….. having said that, i’ve been doing some research on RYAN air and we can get good prices for tickets but multiply that by five people and we are looking at a lot so we may have to stick to somewhere we can get to by train. A sleepy beach town that’s not super popular but that has a nice outdoor market and area to stroll around..
I found a few homes on AirBnb.com for homes that are furnished so i may go that route. We don’t really care if it’s small with one or two bedrooms since we are only staying for one month..We havn’t made definite plans yet but as the month of August is approaching we need to make plans soon.. tick tock…
If we don’t end up staying in Greece i really hope we get a chance to travel there in the next few months. My husband has been but i have not been and i love GREEK food..
Annie Andre recently posted..What is A Career Break And Why Should You Care?
Hi Annie,
Sorry for my late answer! I am glad to see that I gave you some good ideas. I hope you find something good for you and your family. I understand you point about the airplane tickets. The most crazy is that domestic flights are much more expensive than international flights.
If you finally decide to go to Greece, I want to inform you that where I am right now, Chios Island, it is not a very touristic place and it is surely less expensive that cyclades islands (such as Amorgos, Santorin, Myconos….). Chios is generally a family destination.
I am afraid I cannot suggest you a sleepy beach town in France because I don’t know…I will ask my boyfriend though and I will let you know if he has an idea.
I wish you can make your dream a reality and visit Greece. hehe, thanks for your kind comment about the food. I am glad to see that crisis didn’t destroy everything about Greece and Greeks…
See you.
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
Hi Lenia,
This was lovely post, and indeed I could relate to the experiences you have had.
Firstly, I have to commend you for following your dreams, even during these economic hardships in Greece and across Europe.
It is at times Iike this when a person’s strength of character is tested and you are truly inspiring. You have a fighting spirit that is very strong.
I too at times feel not very optimistic. What I’ve learnt is that such feelings don’t last. They never do. The feeling of losing hope might last a day, a week or even a month. However one thing, which is guaranteed, is it will pass. I take solace in this.
I believe you already know the answer to the issues you wrote about in your post – Never give up.
Take care and have a good week!
Hiten recently posted..Leadership is all around us
Hi Hiten,
Thank you so much for your kind comment. Sometimes I think that I cannot stop living and dreaming just because of the crisis. That is the main reason why I take important decisions for my life even during this hard period. My life is now. If I wait for the crisis to go I will be an old woman! I want to react. I take into account the difficulties but I cannot just wait.
You are very right. The pessimistic feeling doesn’t last for ever. When it comes I fight and make it go. But it is not always easy for me.
I really appreciate you kind comment. Thank you very much.
Off course, I follow your advice: Never give up!
Have a great week.
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
It sounds to me like you made the right choice in moving to Greece. I’ve been there before with the subway, work, sleep life. I moved away from that and have never looked back. I think the locals reaction to your moving there highlights the old saying of the grass is always greener on the other side. Yeah, they have the financial crisis there, but maybe they are overlooking all the good things that their country has to offer. And you probably see all those good things that they miss.
By the way, I was just in Paris and I can see your point about the weather. Even though it is pretty hot here, I still had to wear a jacket a few days because it was too windy and cold. Plus, if most of your mornings were like some of those days I spent on the subway, I can definitely see why you’d want out. Way too packed at times to even move.
Steve recently posted..Are You Short-Changing Your Value?
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your comment.
Ha, this is a good reference to the great book of “Lead the field”!
Thank you for your support. It is really kind of you. It is exactly as you mention: I see some good things that some locals cannot see. They believe that these things are “by default” there and that is normal because they have never experienced something different.
So, you definitely see what I mean about the parisian weather! There are two things that I don’t miss: the grey sky and the subway.
I miss some other things such as the food, my friends and the funny but quite unkind behavior of the typical Parisians
Despite the weather I hope you enjoyed your time in Paris. It is a wonderful city to visit and spend some days for holidays!
Thank you for your comment and your support. I appreciate that.
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
Unfortunately, I am the same exact way. I lose hope often and have asked people to pray for me to give me encouragement and strength so I can keep going, but it hasn’t been working.
Things have been rough for me lately, with my teenage son and all the chaos around me…I just have no desire to really push forward and in fact it is quite difficult in my current situation….that should end soon, I hope – can’t wait till this work on this house is done.
Anyway, I feel like I am being watched so I gotta run. But, I fully understand where you are coming from and unfortunately I don’t have any solution.
Talk to you soon!
Linda
Linda recently posted..Why your Posts are Not Posting via Twitterfeed or Alternates
Hi Linda,
I am really sorry to hear that. I don’t know exactly your current situation and the difficulties but I hope things are going to be better for you and your son. I wish the best for you and your son.
Sometimes I have also this feeling of being watched so I gotta run…
I think each one of us will find the solution. I don’t believe that there is a miracle-solution. I think that as we keep going things are going to be clearer for us and we are going to choose and decide what it the best way go!
Thank you very much for your comment. I wish things are going to be better for you.
Have a good day.
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
Isn’t it interesting how we base our quality of life? Sunway, work, repeat – you would think it’d be enough to drive people crazy (and for some it does), but many float along accepting it as the only way. I think you were right to make the move to Greece. Most of us have no choice but to work a lot, but you should at least be surrounding yourself with other things that you love – nice weather, for example.
I agree that forgetting the destination is one of the first mistakes. Sometimes you have to step back and refocus to remind yourself of the destination and begin to move forward once more.
Thanks for this post!
Steve White recently posted..The big thing about but (not to be confused with big butts)
Hi Steve,
When I took the decision to make the move to Greece i was ready to fight for that. What I am doing now is exactly that…fighting. But I guess there are some things I cannot change and that is not my goal off course. I am convinced that it was a right move but the time will show if I made the move in the right moment! I am sure that even if I knew it was not the right moment I would have done exactly the same move. That’s because I believe that my life is here and now and I want to decide for it now.
The destination is very important to keep our hope alive but sometimes the path to the destination is even more important because during the path we learn a lot and we become richer!
Thank you very much for your wish. I really appreciate your support. I also thank you for sharing your thoughts through this comment.
I wish you all the best and see you!
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
Hey Lenia! Your story is very touching dear. Never loose hope, We have a sayings in Indian that “Uparwale ke ghar der hai andher nahi”. It means that “God may delay the blessings but there’s never a let down from him”.
Sunil Prajapat recently posted..Top 5 Best Steps To Promote Your Freelance Career or Business Using Twitter
Hey Sunil,
Thank you very much for sharing a little bit of your culture with me. This Indian saying is really interesting. Actually I believe that too and I believe that sometimes we face some obstacles but that is not by chance. It is a test to prove our patience and belief.
I really thank you for this comment.
Lenia
Sometimes, when you loose all your hope, you feel free..
That is an interesting approach. I guess we may feel stressed when we lose our hope especially when we are not convinced that everything is over for true. I imagine that if we are convinced that we need to focus on something different, re consider our decisions, change and get adapted to a new reality then we feel free and released…
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me here.
Hi Lenia,
All will be good again! Because in life – just like in nature – there must be light as well as darkness.
Just remember, the darkest hour is right before dawn
My heartfelt best wishes to you and other posters on your darker days. It is so nice that you are able to share and talk about life’s ups and downs – everyone has them.
Howard
Hi Howard,
Thanks a lot for this message and the support and courage you provide me through it.
You are right when you say that everyone has life’s ups and downs. Actually that is what we call life…
It is very kind of you and I appreciate a lot your help.
I wish all the best for you too.
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
Thanks for sharing Lenia
I love your way of writing, though am not a fan of lengthy speech, but you made some important points which I think everyone can relate to…
Charles
Hi Charles,
Happy to see that you loved the post. And it was the first time I wrote something long! I don’t know how that poem came on my mind but I wanted to share it with you.
Thank you very much for your comment. It is really kind.
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X6vbJgqnEQ
Always be optimistic, smile & go ahead!! In this world there is no goal that you cannot achieve with your skills.
Hi Bastian,
I love that song
Thank you very much for reminding it to me. I have almost forgotten it.
You message is really kind and I appreciate that a lot. The power of a small phrase like yours can give me courage to continue.
Thanks a lot.
I wish you all the best.
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
Bastian said : “Always be optimistic, smile & go ahead!” This is so simple, so true. This sounds to me the only way to go through our time on earth. However, it looks like simple things are not that easy to do for human beings…myself being a perfect exemple.
I should repeat this to myself every morning :
- be optimistic, smile & go ahead
- be optimistic, smile & go ahead
- be optimistic, smile & go ahead
- be optimistic, smile & go ahead
Great post Lenia. Keep hoping, keep working for you dream and I wish that you and the people you want to live with will be able to reach this dream.
Fabien
Hi Fabien,
The book “The Man Who Wanted To Be Happy” mentions that when you really want something, you finally achieve your goal. The only secret to this is to believe that you are going to make it…
Do you believe at this? I don’t know…maybe yes, maybe no…it depends on the day.
A friend of mine always tells me: when you wake up, look at the mirror and smile. This will change your humor and your day. This will automatically will give you positive energy…
I am wondering if it is good to fight in order to live a dream or it is better to live every single day in the life as if you are in your dream.
Thank you very much for your comment.
Have a nice day.
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
I’m just pray to god to hear my voice
Juan recently posted..Google Adsense Earnings Hari ini 2012
Juan, thank you for sharing your way of doing things when you lose your hope. You have an inner power…Sometimes I do that too but not always I find that power.
Thank you.
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
Hey Lenia, thanks for sharing! We have chosen to carve our own path and along the way we meet kindred spirits and fellow sojourners. Indeed there are some days which are very dark. But it is through the the light that shines from kindred spirits which keep us going. It reminds us that the world is not as dark as we think it is.
You story shone the light just as I was to be overwhelmed. As many others have done, I thank you. Keep on going and know that we are all on the same path even though we are in different parts of the world.
“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience,” Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr
Hi Kevin,
Your message is wonderful and full of optimism. Thanks a lot. What you mention has sense to me. I do exactly what you advise me: keep on going! There are may be some days without light but it is normal because we all have our up and down. Thank you for sharing the phrase of Oliver. It is great.
Have a nice day,
Lenia
hi ,
i red your comments and i was feeling like somebody can solve my inner problem too.
i have sstdied andi live in a country in Asia.
i want to work but i cnat find any, i want to study but i dont have money, and my family can’t support me for some problems, i’m just so alone and depressed and i dont know what do do. it kills me inside.
thank you for the post and for mentioning that important topic
i always ask God for help when i lose hope
and i keep moving forward even if i have no hope
farouk recently posted..I feel nostalgic all the time
Be brave and take this as an opportunity to really growth yourself. Find out why you’re notes getting jobs and find a way to get one. You don’t need to be great to start, ju st start to be great. You’ve got the greatest tool this world has ever seen, the internet.
Hi Lenia,
I can easily relate to your story. The poem was a fantastic choice. Things are already getting better. Come on, you must have noticed some difference between now and, e.g., 1 year ago.
You might not be happy with the progress but there is some progress right? Focus on that.
A few weeks I went to a farm and they told us that a certain plants takes two years to come out of the earth.
I thought…two years for a small little plant!
Some plants take two years, trees take even more in order to grow and bear fruit…
We shouldn’t judge a tree for taking too long to bear fruit compared to another tree, should we?
Anyway, I did have these thoughts so I’m sharing…
Hi Maria!
I am so happy to read this comment from you. These are great thoughts you have shared with me and I feel happy.
Yes you are right there is some progress.
I think I have to redefine the goal and focus on the progress. I have never thought about the plant – evolution. I feel like I demand too many things in a short time!
Anyway, as you see it has been a while since I haven’t shared a new post here. It is mainly because it took me a while to consider that writing and sharing my thoughts and feelings in english is not easy for me.
I am always between Greece and France and I am developping new projets. I keep in mind what you mention. It is a great example!
I have just visited your website and I have discovered the wonderful things you have done there and checked out your products.
Congratulations on your success.
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?
Lenia,
I have been deeply thinking about happiness in the past two years. I don’t know, maybe it comes with the self-employment package
Just as you have said, I also give people the advice I give myself
A few weeks ago I shot a video: “How to believe in yourself”. I talked about what it is that makes us unhappy and how to turn that around.
Yes, it is related to what I told you about progress but also different.
And yes it helps us BELIEVE more.
You may want to check it out here – http://tips.fitnessreloaded.com/how-to-believe-in-yourself/
I’m also trying to limit judgment – what a bad habit we have acquired!
Maria recently posted..Episode 84 – Find time to work out…without having to mess with your schedule first.
Maria,
I have just checked out your video and I will bookmark it and I will check it every time I focus on the 5 more pushups I have to do to reach my goal and not on the amazing progress I made with my first 3 pushups.
Your video is excellent and your advice too
I mean it…it is a really amazing video!
Thank you for sharing that with me!
Lenia
Lenia recently posted..What To Do When You Lose Your Hope?