Selected Stories
One Hard Truth Made Me Leave the Career I Spent 15 Years Building
What if the moment you froze as a child… is the exact reason your voice shakes today?
The Map I Was Missing at 47: How Midlife Rewrites Our Energy, Identity, and Worth
About me
I quit my engineering job at 47, packed a mountain bike, a guitar, and a pillow (yep, it made the cut), and moved countries. Again.
No, I didn’t have a grand plan. I just knew I couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine when it really wasn’t. One inconvenient truth cracked it all open—my work, my relationships, my identity, even my old dreams. Staying put wasn’t an option, so off I went. Into the unknown.
In my 20s, I cycled around the world with barely a budget and a whole lot of curiosity. Wrote some books about it, too. In my 30s and early 40s, I tried being a “proper adult” and worked as an engineer in New Zealand and Australia—mostly solving floods. Okay, I still catch myself trying to design my life around spreadsheets.
I grew up in Taiwan, spent two decades in New Zealand and Australia, and recently returned to family in midlife — a full-circle move that’s reshaped how I see life, roots, and identity.
Before I quit, I thought I’d be in Whistler training to become a mountain bike guide. I even got a scholarship! But life (and visas) had other plans. That unexpected no gave me a strange kind of freedom—a big empty space to ask: “Now what?”
I didn’t get answers right away. What I got was discomfort. Lots of it. But also joy. Weird joy. The kind that sneaks up on you when you stop trying to control everything.
Now, I explore what lights me up—movement, flow, honesty, personal style, and stories that make you feel a little less alone.
What you’ll find here:
– Honest reflections from life after quitting
– Lessons from unlearning and relearning as an older adult
– The mess and magic of designing a life that fits, in real time
Oh, and one last thing:
That pillow I mentioned? I've had it for 20 years. The case is leopard print silk. Just saying.
What I’m Working On
Creating a Life That Fits
After years of designing systems and solving problems as an engineer, I’m now designing a life: one that feels aligned, honest, and grounded in what matters most. This isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about noticing what lights me up and building from there.
Writing a Book
Slowly putting together stories about the journey after I quit at 47. No deadline, just letting it unfold naturally, making meaning in real time.
Exploring Movement
Soft acrobatics, unicycle, handstand, belly dance. I’m exploring how movement helps me express myself, connect with my body, process emotions, and shift old thought patterns. It’s not just about learning skills — it’s about feeling more alive, inside and out.
Belief Experiments
Questioning the quiet stories I haven’t clearly examined – about productivity, self worth, identity, expectations, relationships, money. I’m curious where these automatic beliefs came from and what happens when I stop following them without question.
Training with My Mum
At 72, my mum is lifting weights for the first time. We’re not just building muscle: we’re building trust, connection, and a new story about what aging can look like. It’s one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done.
Contact
Got a question, idea, or just want to say hi?
I’d love to hear from you.
Whether it’s about collaboration, movement, writing, or anything this site stirred up — drop me a message and I’ll get back to you soon.