What I Learned About Autonomy

My one-month long daily introspection of what I’ve experienced during my time in San Francisco.

Working in SF was a period of experiencing new things. It was the first time I ever lived on my own, I ever looked for an apartement, I ever managed my own finances, I ever traveled by myself to new places, I ever felt like a grown-up, and the list could go on forever…

People seek autonomy in personal life or in work. It’s a sign of freedom, meaning you can do whatever you want without having to ask for it. But being or feeling autonomous can also be a burden. At first, it feels overwhelming because you have to think about so many things. For most of us, we have to learn to be autonomous in our twenties/mid-twenties and everything happens fast during this phase of growing up and adulting.

In my case, I think being autonomous fell on me without warning, though I’ve always wanted to travel and find a job abroad. I learned to be autonomous with my finances or in my job. And then days pass on and you realize you’re comfortable in this state of autonomy and independence. You take this role seriously and you try to be the grown-up person you’ve always thought about — Quand je serai grande, je serai comme çi et comme ça… — In short, by gaining autonomy, you set up an example for yourself and you make an effort to stay true to yourself while growing up. But don’t be afraid to rely on others and keep your inner child alive!