I'M NOT GOING BACK

[@jodiewalton4315]

I think you are so inspirational. I’ve read your book and followed you for ages on TikTok. The fact you try things and are brave enough to know when something isn’t right for you and instead of wasting your time you take control and change direction. You are choosing to live! That is incredible!

[@faeriesmak]

I second this!

[@AimeeRebecca]

Jodie, that is so sweet! Thank you! You've really put on a smile on my face with this 😁

[@msbeaverhausen7226]

Please don't think that returning home is a failure. It took great courage to move your life to another country which speaks a different language and has a very different culture from what you know. And you've done that twice. The majority of people don't want to leave their comfort zone and experience new things. How many people stifle their opportunities because they are unwilling to leave their town or city? Your willingness to try new things and a new way of living is VERY brave. Do you have to return to Vietnam to tie up loose ends or can you stay in Wales and do everything from home? I really think that you would be terrific doing a travel blog. Best wishes in your next adventure in life❤

[@AimeeRebecca]

Thank you. I know on a logical level that I haven't failed but that voice in the back of my head keeps creeping in and trying to make me doubt myself. So I appreciate you reminding me that this is NOT a failure :) Thankfully, I don't need to go back. I hadn't signed any contracts to stay and I'd already moved out of my apartment because of the construction. I had a friend pick up the stuff I left behind and she's going to make good use of it. Now onto the next thing 😊

[@cathrynsuarez1695]

I remember we chatted in the comments about how Christmas would be your decision time about whether you would stay or leave. Well done to you for being brave enough to trust your gut feelings. Life has a way of working itself out and it’s lovely to know you’re back home ready to make more great videos.

[@AimeeRebecca]

Thank you. On the one hand, it was a hard decision. On the other hand, it was really easy. I know I wouldn't have been happy if I'd gone back.

[@classicashley3925]

Oh, Aimee… you have not failed. Most people just stick with the path they’re on because that’s less scary than starting over. I have all the confidence in you! I don’t know what’s next, but you are resilient! I’m cheering for you!

[@AimeeRebecca]

You're so sweet. Thank you. Another new beginning. Here we go 🥰

[@DayDreamr16]

I know exactly what you’re describing! I moved to Japan for several years and it was so easy, it felt so right and I was so happy. I had to leave for various reasons and when I tried moving to Zambia a few years after, it just didn’t fit even though it was great and I met wonderful people. If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit.

[@AimeeRebecca]

Absolutely! And what works for some people, doesn't work for others. We just have to keep moving forward with the things that feel right for us 😊

[@classicashley3925]

Thrilled to see the title of this video! I feel like you’re a friend and I hated hearing about how tough the past few months have been. You are so strong to do what’s best for you! My favorite quote is “just keep starting”… because everything changes and we have to adapt.

[@AimeeRebecca]

Thank you so much, Ashley! I appreciate that a lot. And I love that quote. I'm going to make a note of that one on my phone right now.

[@khetawolf]

I'm so happy for you! It is hard to acknowledge that what you thought you wanted may not be right for you after all, and to trust your gut to walk away from it. I am in a similar situation; I moved to a state I wanted to live in my entire life but I've been nothing but unhappy since I got here. Now I'm trying to move back home years later, but it's hard to shake the feeling that I failed somehow. I hope you recover well from your difficult experience, and I'm glad you made the decision to do what's right for you. Looking forward to seeing whatever you do next!

[@AimeeRebecca]

Your gut never lies. I’m so sorry you’ve been unhappy and I hope you can make the changes you need to. I totally understand what you mean about the feeling of failure but I think it’s worth it to work towards a life that’s going to make you happier ☺️

[@irynak778]

Hi! I just found your channel and watched three videos and I want to tell you that you are very inspiring and it’s so nice to have someone real and genuine out there to share their story. Thank you❤

[@AimeeRebecca]

That is so lovely of you to say. Thank you so much ❤️

[@WhatEmmaDidNextUK]

I’ll say here too - you are amazing. This is so brave of you and having been through this exact thing, it’s not easy to ‘admit defeat’ even if that’s not realllllly what’s happened. Knowing yourself well enough that something feels off and doing something about it is so emotionally mature and should be celebrated! I cannot wait to see where your new adventure takes you and am proud to be on my own TTNY challenge working with you and the other amazing gals! 🎉🎉🎉 💜

[@AimeeRebecca]

Aww Emma. Thank you! You always make me smile! I'm so proud of all the work you've been putting in. You've made some big changes recently and I am your number one supporter as you work towards your goals this year 🥰🙌

[@faeriesmak]

There are so many well thought out and lovely comments here! I am so relieved to hear that you are not going back. It seemed that you truly were not yourself since you moved to Hanoi and that you were not at all happy or settled in at all. Living there seemed like it was very, very hard. Harder than it should have been. I look forward to seeing you here more often. You are a total rock star!

[@AimeeRebecca]

Thank you so much! Hanoi definitely wasn't right for me. I didn't feel like myself at all. I don't think I even realised how out of sorts I was until I came home and started to feel normal again. Now onto the next thing 🥰

[@faeriesmak]

@@AimeeRebecca I am so glad that you are feeling more like yourself again.

[@Rodnaiiface]

You are so brave to make the decision to come home - I know what it’s like to make a big move abroad and realise it wasn’t right for me and come home. I felt like a failure and that everyone thought I had failed. You have defo made the right decision for you though ☺️ I love your TikTok videos - you proper inspire me to try and be better!!! Xx

[@AimeeRebecca]

Aww thank you! I think we're so hard on ourselves, aren't we? I constantly feel like I'm failing but now I try to tell myself that even when things don't work out, as long as I've learned something, it's still a win. I'm glad you made the right decision for you too. It's not easy. Well done for being brave and doing what you needed to do 🥰

[@becca377]

You’ve not failed if you’ve tried something., especially if you’ve been insightful enough to realise it wasn’t right for you. Well done!

[@AimeeRebecca]

Thank you! I have to keep reminding myself that this was an experience, not a failure 😊

[@MsLKSF]

Hi Aimee, I just want to say thank you for sharing your journey with us, and good for you for making the decision to come home, I am sure you have learned so much from your adventure in Vietnam - another chapter in your life story. I have been watching your videos for a long time and they have helped me so much. I turned 30 last September and I feel like I’ve been putting so much pressure on myself to hit certain milestones and I feel so upset that I’m not where I thought I would be/should be at 30. But I believe, like you that I need to take some time first to work on myself and rebuilding myself, as you mentioned. It’s funny, when I look back at the past three years, I had the most “fun” (going out, going to concerts, shows etc) and travelled the most last year but I was so unhappy and incredibly anxious for so much of that year and I was so content during the pandemic years when life moved more slowly and I enjoyed the simple things more. I want to try and get back to that sense of contentment in myself, my life and who I am again. Sorry for rambling ! Looking forward to following your journey. I love this quote I heard a few years back, ‘You are exactly where you are supposed to be, you always have been and you always will be.’ Wishing you all the luck and happiness on your journey Aimee. X

[@AimeeRebecca]

I can totally relate to that. I've put a lot of work into trying not to compare myself to others or this imaginary version of where I think my life should be. It still creeps in though! I'm glad you're focussing on rebuilding yourself. That's amazing! Figure out what matters to you, regardless of what anyone else thinks or what other people are doing. That's what's going to make you truly happy 🥰 You got this! x

[@rl3938]

Hi Aimee, I'm glad you are leaving Vietnam , the situation did not seem good from the very start there. It will be wonderful to see you more often on KZbin. I'm glad you have the opportunity to take a respite and rebuild. I was wondering if you would think about doing some content on how to rebuild when you can not disengage to do so. I am in a very mentally demanding job and not coping well. I can't leave the job as I have no other income but sitting in front of the computer all day is ruining my health physically and socially. Working from home has had many nice benefits but I find it's so easy after work to just give in to the exhaustion, eat poorly, not exercise, not go out to see friends or just keep working longer and longer hours to try to keep up. How do you re-fuel when you have to keep the househoold running everyday and have no energy by the end of the day?

[@AimeeRebecca]

Thank you. I would love to make some more content on that because I think it's so important. For now, I can give you some advice that has worked for me in the past. I've definitely experienced what you're describing and I found that it was a spiral. The more overwhelmed I felt, the less I did. The less I did, the less motivated I felt. And on and on! A really useful thing to start breaking the cycle is to find something really small that can disrupt the routine you've gotten into. Don't try to do something huge or time-consuming. Make it something really small. It could be switching up your snack to eat fruit mid-morning. It could be just going and standing outside for 10 minutes during your lunch break to get some fresh air. Make it really easy and achievable, but stick with it every day for a few weeks. Then, once that's part of your routine, find a way to add to it. Switch out for a healthy lunch as well as a snack. Go for a walk during your lunch break. When you're in a rut, making changes can feel so huge and so impossible. If you can make the changes really small and gradually increase them, bit by bit, it won't feel overwhelming and you'll be more likely to stick to the changes. Sorry, that was such a huge essay!! I just wanted to give you something to start working on because I know it's such an awful, draining feeling when you feel exhausted and stuck in a rut. I hope this helps until I can get some more content made for you :) You got this!

[@rl3938]

@@AimeeRebecca Thank you so much! You give me hope. It's a beautiful day today. I've opened my window to let some fresh air in while I work and I am going to take a break at lunch to step outside. I know nothing will change without me changing so I must do this. Wishing you the best in what comes next for you. Thank you for your wonderful content, I never miss a video...:)

[@ketlin3344]

Even when everything looks good on paper, when you have an inner feeling that it just isn't it right that's the most important thing to listen to. Who knows, maybe this time next year something amazing will be in your life and it'll be thanks to leaving Vietnam why it came. You tried your best and that's all that matters. Even tho it didn't go as you wanted you've gained some experience you otherwise wouldn't have if not going through everything. It'll all work out x

[@AimeeRebecca]

This is such a great way of looking at it. Thank you. Whenever things don't go as planned, I try to ask myself, "What have I learned from this?" And I think I learned a lot from this experience 😊 x

[@combatbunny9820]

If you don’t like the work silly to continue working there.GOOD luck for your future ❤.

[@AimeeRebecca]

I agree. Thank you 🥰

[@kathleenjohn3963]

Hi Amee Well yeah follow your gut feeling...but at the same time its your experience that counts..omg I can only imagine you living in thst building....btw I left NGPS too now taking a break in the US...all the best dear shall we go back to Bahrain believe me I love that place too...hugs❤️❤️

[@AimeeRebecca]

I'm so glad you left! I honestly don't know how you stuck it out for so long. Have an amazing time in the US 🥰

[@lucybrailsford]

Love your content and your book. Very inspirational and I can’t wait to see how you grow this year xx

[@AimeeRebecca]

Aww thank you so much!! I really appreciate that xx

[@lucybrailsford]

@@AimeeRebecca Any time my lovely, you deserve all the happiness and success xx

[@suzannerockall4030]

You do you. Put yourself 1st. Enjoy your life. Xxx

[@AimeeRebecca]

Thank you!! 😘 xx

[@jeno264]

You are awesome!!

[@AimeeRebecca]

Thank you! That's so sweet 🥰

[@AM09286]

Would you ever consider teaching back in Wales? Or do you want to continue living overseas?

[@AimeeRebecca]

Right now I think I want to settle in Wales, at least for the foreseeable future. Teaching here is a possibility but I’m considering a career change too. I’ve got a lot to think about!

[@PumpkinMozie]

You gave it your best shot and it just wasn’t right for you! Absolutely no shame in that. You should be proud that you stuck with it for as long as you did and didn’t give up before giving it a genuine try. You’ve got great things ahead of you!

[@AimeeRebecca]

Thank you. I'm glad I didn't leave right away (like I initially wanted to) because now I know for sure it was the right decision. No second-guessing. Now onto something new 😊

[@angelinadudko6719]

I am planning to go to Hanoi next year and stay there for a year approximately,so it’d be great to ask someone who has similar experience. Do you think Hanoi and Vietnam in general is safe for women?

[@AimeeRebecca]

Oooh that's so exciting! Yes, I always felt very safe in Hanoi. Of course, be careful and vigilant like you would be anywhere else but I think it's generally a safe place. The thing you will have to be most careful about is the traffic 🙈

[@angelinadudko6719]

@@AimeeRebecca thank you so much for replying! I was a bit worried about safety,so it was important to hear

[@jodiepayne1966]

You need to do what's best for you

[@AimeeRebecca]

Absolutely. Life is so short.

[@Labrexa]

🐻

[@marie-pierreperez6824]

it is the right décision, you where so miserable in Asia !

[@keyboards6364]

Try south America - Brazil, Chile some countries

[@AimeeRebecca]

I'm planning on getting there one day! 🙏

[@keyboards6364]

I'm so proud of your transformation I been following you since your channel was called the odd balls ! You faced so many challenges! Keep going !