In 2018, I lived in Lisbon for a year and a half, where I worked as a customer service agent for a company that handled customer service operations for other businesses. Although the job did not give me much personal satisfaction, that period taught me a great deal about life in a country like Portugal. I discovered that you do not actually need much to be happy and that a simpler life can sometimes offer more value than you might think.

In the Netherlands, I always felt that spending money provided a certain sense of satisfaction. Nice clothes, the latest gadgets, earning a lot of money, building a certain reputation, everything along those lines. It felt as though success was often linked to what you owned or what you could show to the outside world.

It's probably like that everywhere to some extent, but the feeling that people constantly see each other as competition in order to achieve a higher status is something I experienced far less during my time in Portugal. Nowadays, I still visit from time to time, and every single time I get the same feeling: I don't really want to go home yet.

From day to night, every hour I spend in the city of Lisbon, both inside and outside the tourist areas, gives me a certain sense of peace. It's difficult to explain exactly where that feeling comes from, but it is a feeling that returns every time I am there.

As I get older, I find myself searching more and more for a certain sense of peace. Sometimes you can feel stuck and feel as though you're no longer making progress in your life. In those moments, it can be a good idea to change your environment and explore a different place. Every location has its own charm, opportunities to offer, and new insights that can be embraced.

...unable to grow in the way I would like to..

The place where I find myself in life right now sometimes feels as though I am somewhere in between. As if I am caught between where I am and where I truly want to be. That is why it feels like the right time for me to move and simply take that risk. Not because I want to run away from my problems, but because I believe that change is sometimes necessary in order to move forward again.

It’s not that I have problems that I want to run away from. It’s more that I feel like I don’t truly belong where I am right now and that I’m unable to grow in the way I would like to. That’s why it’s important for me to carefully consider whether I truly want to take the step of relocating for the long term, or perhaps even permanently.

The experience is already there, the plans are taking shape, but no concrete dates have been set yet. The only thing currently missing is the financial side of the equation. I have already explored countless options and worked out several backup plans, but the first step is to actively start working on it. Only then can a dream eventually become reality.

The next vacations I plan to take will be focused on preparing myself for the steps I want to take. Starting this year, I will actively adjust my financial situation to support that goal. Both physically and mentally, I will gradually train and prepare myself for what lies ahead.

It is truly time for me to take the preparatory steps toward a major change in my life. Am I afraid of the changes that are coming? Afraid of the unknown? Afraid that things might turn out even worse? That fear will probably always remain to some extent. But I am willing to accept that fear, face it, and move forward despite it.

..and the development of the country itself.

Earlier, I spoke about physical, mental, and financial growth, but in addition to that, my relationship with God will also need to grow in order for me to take this step. If it is the Lord’s will, I would very much like to take that step. My feelings tell me that I may already be ready, but preparation is still half the battle. That is why I want to work not only on my finances, mental resilience, and physical health, but also on my faith. Especially during times of change, I believe it is important to have a strong foundation that you can rely on.

If you're wondering: why Portugal? Why not one of the many other countries in the world? For me, the answer lies in the culture, the sense of calm, and the pace of life. Everything seems to move at its own natural rhythm. Then there is the environment, the nature, and the development of the country itself.

It is a country with places full of social interaction, but also with plenty of locations where you can be completely on your own and enjoy your own thoughts. From Lisbon to Setúbal, from Setúbal to Madeira, from Madeira to Porto, from the Algarve to Serra da Estrela. From beaches to nature parks, from white sandy beaches to grey abandoned buildings. From the most beautiful street art to rough throw-ups and illegal pieces. Pieces of nature, pieces of infrastructure, each with its own character and story.

Just writing about it gives me that exciting feeling inside. The feeling that something is waiting for me there, something I still want to explore. Perhaps that is ultimately the reason why Portugal keeps returning to my thoughts.

I know that I am mostly mentioning tourist destinations right now, but the diversity of both nature and infrastructure is one of the things I love most about the country. The feeling that I have options. That I can choose between the energy of a city, the peace of nature, or something in between.

Without a doubt, there are places in the Netherlands that offer the same thing, and I am one hundred percent convinced of that. Yet it does not feel the same to me. Perhaps it is the environment, perhaps the culture, or perhaps simply the feeling I get whenever I am there.

What the future will look like, and whether this plan can and will actually be carried out, remains to be seen. But one thing I know for certain: the desire and motivation are there. And sometimes, that is exactly where every major life change begins.

Thanks for reading. Enter your comment down below on what you think. Do you think moving could be an option to grow? Or do you think it's just all in the mind.. If I would tell you that a bottle of water is more expensive at an Airpot than at a supermarket. Do you think moving to grow is still something that is in your mind? Even I can argue with the waterbottle statement. Let me know your opinion.