This life for me did not happen overnight.

This life was 19 years in the making. Ever since I graduated high school at 17, I made a promise to myself to live and create and international life that was wilder than my wildest dreams.

It meant sacrifices, it meant working 3 different jobs whilst studying at university. It meant saving, and hustling and networking and collaborating.

My first job at 13 was at a day spa answering phones, sweeping floors and restocking shelves. I was legally too young to work but was so driven to have my own independence, that I found a way. I earned £2.50 / $4 per hour and worked after school on Wednesday, Thursdays and Saturdays. I loved it. And it taught me to value my money and save for things that I desired that my family couldn’t afford.

I also had a paper delivery job where I walked the streets with my girlfriend, dropping off flyers to every single street in my suburb.

I did both of these jobs as well as receiving straight A’s in my studies. I never complained about working or complained about studying – I knew if I wanted to change my life, I had to do both – so I just got on with it with a big fat smile.

I was saving so hard as I wanted to go to Japan as part of my school program and my family was not able to afford this. So every single $ I saved was going towards my first overseas experience at age 16.

Living with my host family, going to school and travelling around Japan was EYE opening. It showed me that there was a big wide world out there and I wanted to see it all.

Ever since then, I have done and continue to do whatever it takes to make my dreams come true.

So wherever you are, and what ever you are dreaming about, know that these things don’t happen without sacrifices.

You want to start a blog but have no time? Get up one hour early.

You want to retrain whilst working full time but scared of the sacrifices you have to make? It will be worth it in the end.

You want to start a side hustle but you’re scared of failing? It’s better to fail then to never tried at all.

Follow your heart, follow your dreams. Life is too short to stay in a place that doesn’t light you up.

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Phoebe Greenacre is a Somatic Movement Therapist, Business Coach, Yoga and Meditation teacher. Phoebe’s mission in life is to help women feel alive by empowering them with tools and rituals that help heal and feel whole again. Also founder of The Self Care Space, Phoebe has created an online library of self care and healing classes including yoga, meditation, sound healing, breath work, pilates and more. Read more about Phoebe’s somatic therapy and business coaching offerings.