Have you ever felt the fear of starting over so deeply that it silenced everything else?  Then this blog is for you.

The other day, I had a short chat with my neighbor.
She and her husband, both in their late 70s, are getting ready to fly back to their home country for the summer. They do this every year – spend May through September in their main house “back home,” then return to Spain in the fall.

They genuinely love both places. They have circles of friends in each, familiar routines, favorite things they do — lives that stretch across borders.
I find that beautiful… and completely foreign to me. 

Because my story is different.

Feeling Like a Foreigner Before You Ever Leave

Even before I physically left Belgium, I had already mentally checked out. My mindset, values, and habits had started to shift.
Conversations with friends began to feel disconnected. Their lives followed a familiar script — work until retirement, then finally enjoy life.
Mine was about doing things differently — now, not “someday.”

The gap between us grew. And eventually, I felt more like a foreigner in my own country than I ever would abroad.

Most people around me followed this internal roadmap: 

→ stay in the job
→ save
→ maybe buy a second home, or renovate the kitchen and bathroom
→ wait for retirement
→ then enjoy life.

But I always believed you could skip that script.
Not because I had everything figured out.
But because something inside whispered: this isn’t it.

Afraid To Start Over & A Whisper That Wouldn’t Go Away

For years, I had been trying to improve my life, find a better fit and maybe even go for my big dream of moving to Spain.  Sunshine or rainy days, the whisper stayed.
Sometimes faint. Sometimes loud. But always there.

But what I didn’t know was that deep down, I was quietly sabotaging myself.  

In my head were echoing the voices of my parents, coworkers, and friends (“be realistic,” “people like us don’t do that”). 

And as much as I resisted those messages, they became part of my inner dialogue too.  I just didn’t realize it.  Because they were doing their damaging work behind the scenes, 24/7.

So I waited.
I told myself I needed more savings. Better Spanish. A backup plan. I postponed my dream for over 20 years.

I tried to fit in. I pushed through. I played by the rules.
And I burned out. Physically, mentally, emotionally.

Until my body said: enough.

That was my turning point.

Pain Became My Permission Slip 

After years of pain, exhaustion, and a fibromyalgia diagnosis, something shifted. I had nothing left to lose. The fear of staying stuck became bigger than the fear of leaping.

So I moved.
Not with a perfect plan — but with a decision.

Maybe You’ve Been Dreaming Too

Dreaming of a new chapter, a new place, a slower pace, a fresh start, a different direction in job or business, a health reset or simply more time for yourself.  A version of your life that feels lighter and more like you.

But you haven’t taken the leap yet.
And maybe, just like me, it’s not because you can’t…
But because fear is louder than your whisper.

Quiet the Noise with One Small Tweak

If that’s you, I want to remind you:
Fear isn’t the enemy — it’s just … noisy.

And one way to quiet the noise is with small, intentional tweaks.

That’s why I created A Tweak Away — a space to help you shift without the pressure of a big bang.

Your fresh start doesn’t need to be dramatic or fully mapped out.
It can begin with one small shift.
One tweak.

✨ I created a free gift to help you take that first step:
Dare to Feel Great – 5 Simple Tweaks for More Energy and Ease

Inside, you’ll find five small shifts that helped me rebuild from burnout and fear — and make space for a new beginning.  Even if you’re stuck in the fear of starting over, these small tweaks can gently move you forward.  Grab your copy here.

Because when your nervous system calms, your clarity returns.
Possibilities appear. You stop reacting and start responding.
You begin to make different choices — choices that come from truth, not fear.

Maybe it all starts with a whisper.
Maybe all it takes is a small tweak.

What if your next chapter is just a tweak away?