Everyone talks about “upskilling” after quitting. I tried. It didn’t go to plan.
In the months I was debating whether I should quit or not, the idea of just quitting without any plan felt too scary. So I made one.
I applied to study mountain bike guiding in Whistler, Canada — a place I had always dreamed of. I even received a scholarship. The plan was to visit my parents in the first half of the year, then head to Canada and train to become a mountain bike coach.
It felt reasonable. Ambitious, but safe. Like I was pivoting into something exciting, with structure and purpose. I felt at ease with the plan.
Then, just after my last day of work and before I flew back to Taiwan, the course coordinator messaged me:
“Sorry Ting. Our course hasn’t been approved to accept international students yet.”
I stared at the screen, stunned. And strangely… relieved.
What unfolded next was a completely new experience. For the first time in years, I had no job, no plan, no next thing. And because of that, I started to notice something I’d never had time to see:
The cage I had built for myself — made not of obligations, but of habits and old stories. And this time, there was no one else to blame.
This season has been uncomfortable, uncertain… and wildly clarifying. And I’m grateful the plan fell through. Because it made space for something else: reflection, experimentation, and a chance to meet myself outside of titles.
If you’re tempted to leap into the next title, the next qualification, the next identity — maybe pause is an option too.
Not a step back, but a space to breathe.
You might be surprised what shows up when you’re no longer rushing to be someone else.
