Where The Hell Has Dave Been
Lisa has told me that she has been asked on several occasions “where’s Dave”. Well I am back with a new outlook. Apart from working on our bus I have been spending a lot of time thinking and re-evaluating my life and how I want to live it. Lisa has kept me informed in the mean time of everyone’s positive comments whilst she has continued to keep everyone updated. To each and every one of you I would like to say thank you. Your support has meant a great deal to me.
Have I Just Had My Mid Life Crisis?
Some would call it a mid life crisis but personally I think that term is an absolute crock of you know what. To me it was an awakening or realisation that I was not being true to myself in some of the things that I was doing in my life and my perception of other aspects was somewhat jaded. The Instability created by the change from living a suburban lifestyle to home being wherever I park our bus certainly played a part in realising that I was not being true to myself. I was in the midst of realising a goal that I had set myself when I was still a teenager and I wasn’t even excited. It was at this point that I started to realise that something was wrong.
Two Works in Progress
While I was rebuilding our bus after I had exposed most of her faults and problems I was starting to discover my own as I began to take a good look at myself.
One main area that needed attention was my choice of career. Mine was in crisis and needed a new outlook or a change. Whilst Lisa had discovered blogging and internet marketing and taken to it like a duck to water, I had chosen Options day trading as my preferred occupation. The charting and analysis side of things was going well but mentally I was not even in the game. The more I tried the worse it got.
On the bus though I was working with a mental picture of the finished bus in my head and almost everything that I did would bring me a step closer to seeing the bus finished as I pictured it, just as an artist sees a finished picture whilst he is still painting it.
After a lot of thought I came to the conclusion that at this stage in my life I am still a tradie not a trader. With that realisation my new outlook on life started to take shape. On the career front I get great enjoyment out of using my hands so I will take on whatever short term jobs that interest me as we travel around Australia. I will also be doing some how to articles for the newsletter that we will be publishing. So if you are interested in discovering some new ideas to use on your own motorhome or caravan then sign up for our news letter. As for trading I will most likely open a micro forex account with $200 and trade it as a hobby after I take a bit of a break from it. That way there will be no pressure if I can build it up from there to a sizable amount perhaps then I might become a trader not a tradie.
As for my relationship with Lisa. I did not run off with the hot young chick next door. Besides there being no hot young chick next door I realised how lucky, grateful and madly in love with the vivacious and loving wife that I have. Lisa has been my rock, companion and best friend for the last 16 years. If there is one thing that I am not happy about it is that we are not already on the road as I am now as excited about it as Lisa is.
New Directions
With a new outlook comes new directions. Our new life on the road will continue. Instead of constantly moving there will be times that we will decide to stay in some areas for a while if I find some work that interests me. As well as writing technical articles for the New Life on The Road newsletter I have some product ideas for motorhomes that I intend to work on and bring to market if I can, time and location permitting.
Midlife crisis or whatever you want to call it I am grateful for the new outlook that I have and am looking forward to bringing you more posts and articles in the not too distant future.
Please follow us over on Instagram to see more of our travels!
Cheers,
Dave
New Life On The Road
Absolutely love that you have found some inner peace David. I am so happy for you. You are right about the trading, it really takes it out of you emotionally and you really need to have your head in the right space to do it. Looking forward to reading more posts from you.
Jackie Stenhouse recently posted..How to Add a Facebook Widget to Your Website
Hi Jackie,
Thanks 🙂
The constant change that we have been going through over the last 18 months has kept me out of my comfort zone, Which is usualy a good thing. But with trading as well I started to loose my way. It feels good to be back on track again.
Hey David,
Sounds like something just clicked.
Hi Jody,
Sure did – took a little while but I got there.
Cheers
Dave
David
Sounds like you have really sat down and evaluated exactly what you want and what you need. It’s nice to see Lisa is part of that mix. If you end up in Coffs, I definitely have some short term projects that I could use some help with and I am more then happy to pass your name onto friends etc. After seeing what you have done with the bus, you can do anything you set your mind to.
Good luck with your new mindset.
Tania Shipman recently posted..Buy a Countertop Convection Oven
Hi Tania,
Thanks for your comment. Be great to help you out, when we are at Coffs I will sure let you know 🙂
Cheers
Dave
Hi David,
Sounds like working on the bus has given you lots of thinking time. I am pleased you didn’t run off with the hot chick next door LOL. If you are passing our way I would love to meet you both, one day it is our dream to travel the country in a van or motor home. We just need to get a few more things in place. Looking forward to your next post.
Sue
Hi Sue,
Working on the bus has given me lots of thinking time and has helped me realise what I truely like doing. Will love to catch up with one day, and looking forward to hearing that you are on the road.
Cheers
Dave
HI Dave
I had a similar experience 4-5 years ago and after reconsidering my life’s path found myself quitting a 30yr career and starting my own business. I now work part-time back in schools – when and how I want and run my landscape business when and how I want -and my clients are a happy lot!
Arrival of the granddaughter really confirmed my choices and now I spend at least a day a week on things related to my daughters or granddaughter – even thought the girls are adults now. The result is we are a very close family and basically a happy bunch!
So follow your heart mate and you won’t go wrong!
Woody
John Wood recently posted..Help Steve Marsh Fight Back
Hi John,
Happiness is so important in life. Which is something that I have just recently worked out. Glad its working so well for you.
Cheers
Dave
Being true to yourself is a job on its own. Actually being able to find yourself is one big acheivement. Good on you for even giving it a go. So many still hold the fear in the belly. We are all in there rooting for you …… so to speak.
Mandy Smith recently posted..Potting about
Hi Mandy,
Dont know if I have completely found myself yet but I know that I am heading in the right direction. I know that I am more excited about what lies ahead.
Cheers
Dave
Thanks for sharing your side of this wonderful story David. I have a feeling you are going to enjoy your adventure more than you ever thought possible. Have an absolutely fantastic time, and don’t forget to call in at Newcastle, we would love to meet you all 🙂
Hi Sharon,
Thanks. I am definitely looking forward to our adventures more. We let you know when we are heading for Newcastle.
Cheers
Dave
Hi Dave,
Great post that many of us can relate to. Glad you have found your ‘passion’ as it is so encouraging reading about all the plans and ideas you have – sounds like it will be a busy, and very successful time for your all 🙂
Options trading can be tricky, and you need to be in a right mindset to trade them successfully. I was trading whilst going through a marriage break-up. BAD time to try and trade, and I eventually figured out it was time to stop. I’ve recently turned the corner (bootcamp was a turn around) and have just started getting back into trading which is one of my passions.
So all the best as you start this exciting new stage, with ‘life on the road’ 🙂
Best wishes to you, Lisa and the boys
Bronwyn recently posted..COMPETITION PRIZE
G’day David,
You really have honoured us with this look deep inside your soul. I’m very grateful that we have met. I often use ” manual labour ” time to sort out my life / priorities / problems so I can relate to your writing.
Happy Motoring
Harry
Harry Lynn recently posted..Learning Piano – My Learning Journey Part Four
Hi Harry,
Thanks for your kind words. I don’t know if it is coincidence but I quiet often find analogies between what I am working on when using my hands and the life issue that I am thinking over.
Cheers,
Dave
It’s a funny thing, something will just click with you when you are finally in alignment with your core values.
Sean recently posted..Leadership Development Plan – Step Three
Hi Sean,
I think that when you finally align with your core values you realise that you are being true to yourself.
Cheers,
Dave
Hi Dave
Thanks for sharing your journey. It can be so hard to find the correct path, with many successful people advising on their passion – but it may not be your passion, or sit correctly with your true self. So glad to hear you have found what you want for now, as you continue your exciting journey.
You and Lisa have also gained many offers of places to stay which is great. To add to your list, if you are around Warwick / Killarney way (SE Qld), we have acreage there where you are welcome to park the bus for a break (and no jobs to do because it is just a rural property with a shed, and the other block of land not even a shed!) Check out the views at http://www.landwarwick.com
All the best
Ki
Hi Ki,
There are quiet a lot of people out there telling anyone who will listen that following their passion/system is the greatest way to improve your life. The reason that 95% of people never succeed is that it is not their passion. I think that if we allow it though each of these lessons eventually guides us towards our own passion and path in life.
Thanks for the offer to stay on your incredible property. We will definitely let you know when we will be in that area and look you up.
Cheers,
Dave
Well done Dave for stepping outside the “box” that society puts us in. Interesting, when we do what we love, we love what we do. Sometimes it is difficult that what that is. Hope you and your family have a fantastic time travelling and learning new things.
Carolyn recently posted..How To Make A Fun Hat Out Of Cardboard Crafts
Hi Carolyn,
One thing that I have always liked doing is steeping outside the box. It is a lot more fun on the outside and the reaction that you get from those that feel safe by staying inside and conforming is priceless.
Cheers,
Dave
Hi Dave
Sometimes you have to do something different like your trading, to realise what you were doing is what you love. I can imagine trading would be stressful and who needs to add stress to their lives. All the best with your bus renovations and looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Kerry Lea recently posted..The Entrance NSW
Hi Kerry,
I totally agree. Situations like this remind me of the the book”acres of diamonds” where a man left his property in search of diamonds when they were in the stream that ran past his front door. Sometimes we have to look at things from a different angle to find what we are looking for.
Cheers,
Dave
Hi Dave,
My husband is stuggling with this decision also, so I am hoping your blogg and new lifestyle will give him the confidence to make the choice to up and go. Enjoy! you have the biggest back yard ever.
Hi Trish,
There is a quote that I have read that I think of whenever I have any doubts about the choices that I have made. ” What is important in life is not how many breaths you take, but how many times your breath is taken away.” Without change it is pretty hard to have your breath taken away.
Once you learn to embrace the uncertainty that comes with change it becomes much easier to decide on a new direction in life.
Cheers
Dave