Written by Linda Garneau

Hello everyone! I recently volunteered as one of the film judges for the festival and was asked to write about living a Bolder Life. But first, let me say that I was truly inspired and enlightened by the diversity of real-life characters in these films. Many of them have overcome some very trying circumstances to lead a more fulfilling, purposeful life.

And now it’s my turn…I just got laid off from my job, and so this topic could not have been more timely.

The layoff was a choice this time around…more or less. Office politics and the 9-5 daily grind were no longer working for me, and I felt a strong pull in a new direction more aligned with my values and passions. I knew that the longer I stayed in my current situation, the more I would be stunting my growth, setting myself up for failure, and ultimately being fired.

This is an art piece my daughter and I painted together this summer.

Living the High Life

A few months back in one of our coaching sessions, Erin Kelly, the festival art director, said to me, “the more money we have, the bigger our life gets.” And you know what? The way I was living my life was a direct example of that statement.

When I was married, I owned one of those luxury homes you see dotted all over the D.C./Northern Virginia metropolitan area. The longer I clung on to that big house and huge paycheck, the harder I would work, the less quality time I would have, the more errands I would run, the more I would spend, the more I would give away, and the more the banks and businesses would take from me.

And so here I was, trapped in a vicious cycle. When the government cut spending, our pay would get cut, or we would get laid off and that paycheck would stop coming altogether. Suddenly, I realized that no one was doing this to me or holding me back; I was doing this to myself and holding myself back.

Time for a Change

During the initial weeks of layoff, I would still feel anxious and rushed at traffic lights even when there was nowhere to go. My foot was still stuck to the gas pedal of commuter hustle and bustle. It is really amazing what we discover about our conditioning when we finally slow down!

In many ways, I felt vulnerable detaching from a life that I’ve known for almost 30 years. Having that steady paycheck helped me plan ahead and gave me a sense of peace and security. In some ways, it was like a drug fix…there is this endorphin rush you experience when payday arrives.

I soon discovered that experiencing something new also gives you an adrenaline rush that makes you feel totally alive. It was a lot like coming out of my own skin.

“Starting over and being less sure about everything freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.“

–Steve Jobs

And so I sold my home, packed my furniture and belongings in storage, and traded in most of my work clothes for gypsy clothes. I’m talking Salvation Army style–the gypsy stores in the mall want $70 for a plain cotton T-shirt!

A friend of mine gave me this card and suggested I buy an RV.

I decided that by taking new risks, my life would be no worse off than it already was. First, I stopped trying to please and letting others define me. And, as a woman of diversity, I wouldn’t hesitate to challenge myself to the next level if it was something I truly felt I could do.

I learned to see the opportunity in every problem, work around obstacles, and shrug off my critics. This freed me to be my true self and pursue my aspirations.

“I may not try skydiving, but believe in taking quantum leaps. I would rather play in the game and get sacked than sit on the bench and let life pass me by.”

Aim Smart, Plan Ahead

Fortunately, I started building my dream while I still had a job. New ideas were sprouting that I wanted to bring to fruition, and the right supporters were there, ready to help me succeed. If I didn’t seize the opportunity when it knocked, it would have never happened.

Now in the midst of layoff, I have a long history of business skills, a flourishing coaching practice, dance experience, and ventures in travel and cooking that offer promise in food journalism.

The opportunities for growth, even without a steady paycheck, is endless. For the first time in 29 years, I am free to roam and can do these jobs living almost anywhere in the country. The feeling and richness of choices is very liberating!

Living a Bolder Life means:

•  Knowing yourself, your unique skills and talents, and what sets you apart from others
•  Questioning conventional thinking and standing up for what you believe in
• Acknowledging your own truth, and then living it
• Getting back up after you’ve been knocked down
•  Embracing diversity and accepting all individuals as equal
• Letting go of judgment and educating to bring out the best in yourself and others
•  Being open to having those uncomfortable conversations
• Embracing adversity and the body/mind in its current state
•  Believing in the power of the mind and human spirit over your physical body
•  Challenging and optimizing your physical and intellectual capacit
• Expressing oneself through the arts. Taking a blank canvas and freely painting a picture that reveals your mission statement.
•  Singing a song with your heart even when your voice isn’t trained
• Dancing on stage as if no one is watching
• Playing a role where you can truly feel and walk the shoes of that character
• Getting out of your car and paying the toll for the person stuck in front of you
• While running errands, picking up a bouquet of flowers for someone you notice is having a rough day
• Coming together as a community and dedicating our services in times of disaster and need
• Feeling forgiveness and compassion for a misguided soul
• Reaching out to someone despite your greatest pain and circumstances
• Having faith in your dreams and trusting that the universe will reward you in ways you never imagined could be possible

My passion and goal is to share my mission and help others to lead a Bolder Life. Perhaps one of these days I will take up my friend’s suggestion and rent that RV. Or visit a third world country to serve those less fortunate than myself.

Putting everything into context, it feels safe to conclude that success lies in the journey, and not in the destination. We achieve our dreams from creativity, hard work, dedication, and courage.

And so it is with great anticipation that I look forward to exploring this next year as a free spirit. No matter where my path leads, one thing I know for certain is that it will lead to a Bolder Life.

Somewhere along the way I found myself participating in the BolderLife Festival. Now how cool is that? 

Linda Garneau

Linda Garneau is a certified professional coach and accomplished writer, educator, motivational speaker, business analyst, and visionary entrepreneur. Linda founded Wings to Freedom Coaching in June 2011. She has helped many break through internal roadblocks and discover positive solutions to achieve desired, sustainable results. She says, “It’s time to break through unspoken rules and traditions, and cultivate a more engaged home, school, and workforce by inspiring and empowering the lives of others, one person at a time.”

Linda was born and raised in New Providence, New Jersey, and spent the past 29 years working and raising two children in the D.C./Northern Virginia metro area. Her favorite pastimes are hip-hop dance, travel, health and fitness, and food journalism. Check out her new travel and cooking blog, where she journals her adventures and shares favorite recipes.