Changing jobs at 50 – moving to Sri Lanka
Changing jobs at 50.
Changing jobs at 50 – inspired by Gina d’Albiac of True Colours Coaching I thought I would write about my experience of changing jobs at 50 yeas old.
Some of the items that True Colours Coaching can help you with resonates with my move from a career in Banking in the UK to a new life in Sri Lanka:
- Explore your purpose and how to live a more fulfilling life
- Uncover a career- or life-path where you are free to be yourself and to do something that is in line with your values.
These two elements reflect my change in life and what happened when I changed jobs (and countries) at the age of 50.
And that was then.
A career in Banking in London was fulfilling for a long period of my life.
I was motivated, learning, challenged, energetic, ambitious, happy, rewarded, developed, and much more.
Most of my work was a happy experience and of course there are always ups and downs. I did feel, at the time, that I had a fulfilling life.Â
My wife and I had a good lifestyle and really enjoyed living and working in London.
There is a saying that “familiarity breeds contempt”. Although these words are a bit too strong a description of what I went through, being in a career for so long eventually creates a desire for change.
I had experienced credit booms and busts over my career and there were periods where the enjoyment and fulfilment were stressed. In addition to this, despite earning well, my wife and I were not able to spend as much time together as we would have liked. Â
Business travel and long hours became the norm and it was clear that we both needed a change.
50 - a good moment to change my job.
My wife and I had a plan to relocate to Sri Lanka. Shortly after my 50th birthday we landed on this Paradise Island. Ru is Sri Lankan and this would enable her to spend more time with her parents and reduce the amount of work travel she was enduring.
I had some projects to do in Sri Lanka before deciding on next steps so was engaged for a while.Â
My change of job at 50 had not yet been determined.
It didn't go to plan.
After some months being based in Colombo, it became clear that the work travel and stress my wife was experiencing was not going to change.
Same experience, different location.
We ran to the hills!
Maybe this is a little bit of an exaggeration. My wife had purchased part of an abandoned tea estate in the Sri Lankan Hill Country many years ago. We planned to build a small holiday home for ourselves so we could escape from the heat of Colombo from time to time
Once we started building, we added some additional rooms and eventually we ended up with GlenMyu Estate.
Changing jobs at 50 - From Banker to Gardener??????
My job role changed once GlenMyu Estate was open. I became an unpaid gardener maintaining the grass pathways and lawns around the estate. A far cry from my work in London, but I really do feel fulfilled and love it. I’m very proud when I see the results of my efforts trying to get the grass as flat as Lords Cricket Ground. (I’m still working on that!).
Fulfilment is added to when meeting our new guests on a regular basis. I really enjoy talking to them about their experience of Sri Lanka and providing some recommendations on what to do and se when they are staying at GlenMyu Estate.
The pay is lousy but my new job is the best.
Sure, I was better off financially when I was living in the UK. I was able to drive in a nice car, eat in a good restaurant and holiday a few times a year.
I now am able to spend more time with my wife, the stress levels are lower and it doesn’t really matter whether I have the latest i-Phone. We keep on dropping our older phones around the estate so a new phone wouldn’t be shiny for too long!
I really enjoy my new job and my new life. I’m very happy that I decided to change my job at 50.
We both feel privileged to be in a position to live our new lives and know that continuing to work hard and do the best for our guests at GlenMyu Estate should result in a long and fulfilling job and life.
Stay at GlenMyu Estate to experience the Sri Lankan Hill Country
A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.
We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.
The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,
GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.
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