Dream vs. Reality ? Should you pursue your dream or give up on it because of reality? 勇敢追夢，還是面對現實？──抉擇跟排優先順序就是答案。
Hint: I have written in Chinese websites as columnist for 3 years, I sometimes receive some emails from readers. Today I would like to share this story and my reply here.
Dear Irene,
I am a girl who recently turned 26. I am from Taiwan, I would like to hear some suggestion from you.
Here it is: I was an exchange student in London while I studied high school, I told myself I definitely want to study abroad afterward. I was lucky to study college in the Philippines and master in Australia, after graduation I started to work as sales and relocated among southeast Asian countries. I came back to Taiwan when I was 24, got a job which is secure enough but nothing special exciting.
I always wanted to come back to the UK, but could not make it due to the visa problem, recently, I received the UK working holiday visa for 2 years, even more fortunate, I found a journalist job which will pay me xxxxx Pounds per year. If I do well, the company will help me to apply for residency in the UK after 2 years.
However, my mom is almost 60, I chose a job back to Taiwan, because I wanted to spend more time with my family. Furthermore, in the UK, I will only make a bit more than what I earn in Taiwan. I am extremely confused…Should I give up everything just to go back to the UK but if the job does not go well, when I come back to Taiwan, I will be 28 with nothing…
Hi Girl,
I am happy to receive your email.
First of all, congratulation, it is not so easy to get a visa as well as job opportunities in the UK. (You know how tough their foreign policy has become.)
Life always comes with numerous difficulties and surprises at the same time. However, what I have learned is that it is always about priority. You have to weigh what is the most important thing for you at that stage.
To have an illustration, I chose to be an entrepreneur 8 months ago, which means I chose to give up the money I saved to buy a flat here in Berlin and use it as my cost of living. I chose to give up a social life, such as, hanging out with friends or going on dates. It indicates that I will have no relationship soon and also I am pushing 30 years old… People who know me know how much I love kids…Even worse, I am the person who enjoys life a lot, traveling, sport, wine, reading, cooking, dining, dancing, music…even some other new things I always want to learn. I literally gave up everything, because I wanna pursue my dream to be an entrepreneur. I barely went out, if I went out, that was only for networking, certainly, no date at all. No new clothes, no traveling, no dining in the restaurant, I could not even afford to buy quality goods to cook at home, not even mention other ‘’luxury things’’ I used to do.
To have another example: in 2014, I went back to Taiwan to take a new challenge, that was much more interested than the job I had in Europe. Although I was satisfied with my job, I learned a lot, yet I was still not happy. Why? I thought work/career always come first, but the truth is I had no life once I went back to Taiwan. I was glad I had more time to catch up with the time I lost before with my family, but deeply I was really unhappy. There were so many things that I had done a lot, but I could not do it anymore. Back in the time, I was interning in Berlin, I had no money and did not know where I would have my career, but you know what I was happy.
I realize that ‘’life always comes first’’ in my case most of the time.
I am not regretful at all about the decision I made to go back to Taiwan, because the job I took in Taiwan, led me to another new page of my life later on, also my niece had no idea who I was when she was born but after being in Taiwan for several months, she is the most lovely little one for me.
I might evaluate mistakenly sometimes about my life. What is most significant for me and what is not that important? I prioritize them and decide what to do and what to give up. It is hard but you just cannot have them all. As far as I read from your email: there are only 7 things: family, money, dream, age, security, career, so Girl, which is the most important for you?
I hope this email helps and let me know if you have any further questions? :)