A Leap of Faith: My Unplanned Journey from San Francisco to Greece

Embarking on a 16-hour Lufthansa flight, I was set to move to Greece, a place where I knew no one and had no place to stay. Leaving behind 15 years of a stable life in San Francisco—with a secure job, dear friends, and a cherished apartment—I was stepping into uncertainty without even speaking the language.

How Athens Became a Career Game-Changer

As the plane took off, instead of feeling anxious, an unexpected joy filled me. Approaching my 41st year, it felt as if life was offering a fresh start. Although I had pursued a career as a CPA for its reliability, my financial role gradually became tedious and lacking the excitement I craved. Unbeknownst to me, my decision to relocate to Athens, driven purely by intuition, would redefine my career trajectory.

Embracing a New Professional Identity

Initially, I maintained my role as CFO for a Californian interactive company while exploring the Enneagram—a personality framework I had long admired but never considered as a professional path. Three years into my Greek journey, the disconnect between my finance job and my new life became undeniable. I decided to resign and plunge fully into the Enneagram, leading to unforeseen opportunities.

With newfound freedom, I turned to writing. My first book, 'Headstart for Happiness,' integrated the Enneagram with yoga. My second, 'The Nine Keys,' focused on its application in romance. While promoting the latter in Portugal, I was invited to assist a corporate training venture, leading to collaboration with teams across Europe and the U.S., enhancing their efficacy and revealing their potential. This also opened doors for hosting retreats in Greece, sharing my enthusiasm for my adopted home.

Life Through a Transformed Lens

The redesign of my life has shifted my perspective entirely. I used to envision retiring in my 60s, but now I find no reason to stop working. My job brings such joy and fulfillment that I see myself doing it indefinitely, focusing on enriching others' lives.

Despite the challenges of building a new social foundation, my family and friends have been remarkably supportive. Technology has kept us connected, and in Greece, I quickly befriended a local family whose daughter invited me into her vibrant social scene, from late-night Greek music events to cycling adventures.

Our relationship became so close that I took on the role of godmother to her child, leading me to embrace the local culture by being baptized into the Greek Orthodox faith, aptly titled 'nona.' Besides these personal connections, platforms like MeetUp ensured a thriving social life.

Experiencing True Vitality

Each day begins with an invigorating sense of purpose, focusing on my health to sustain my professional commitments for a long time. The most significant change between my past and present life is this profound vitality.

I have one piece of advice: if you’re contemplating change, you can achieve it. My journey was dramatic but doesn’t need to be for everyone. Like Martin Luther King Jr. said, you just need to take that initial step without knowing the full path ahead.