Ten years ago I was behind a desk at the Zuidas in Amsterdam—the financial heart of the Netherlands—wearing heels that hurt and pretending I cared about KPIs.

I was “crushing it,” at least according to LinkedIn.

But outside that shiny glass tower, life was happening without me.

I kept thinking about all the family members I’d already lost way too early.
If I only had ten years left… was this really it?
A golden cage, a fat paycheck, and maybe three holidays a year to regulate my nervous system just enough to keep performing until retirement (or collapse)? No thanks.

So I did what everyone told me not to do.
I quit.
Packed my bags.
Bought a one-way ticket to Asia.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.