
Why I Quit My Dream Job As A Jet Setter
I recently quit the dream job. A role that involved me travelling around the world, experiencing different cultures, staying at five-star hotels, and ticking off bucket list destinations one at a time.
But through the rollercoaster of success, the dream slowly morphed into a burden. The belief that this was the pinnacle of achievement began to weigh on me. I was stuck between what society applauds and my growing desire for a slower, more conscious life.
Five years in, my body's whispers turned into screams. I realised I was living everyone else's dream but not my own. I tried shifting toward wellness tourism, but that pivot only magnified how much I'd neglected myself and my mental health. The one plus point? These retreats helped me reconnect with something deeper. I wanted to explore this path but without the cameras. I wanted to be fully present.
Fear and doubt were constant companions, amplified by others who kept asking: 'Who leaves a dream job?' I remember calling my mother and saying, 'Mum, it feels like a job now.' She replied, 'It's always been a job, but one you used to enjoy.' Her support carried me through, but letting go of my job title was terrifying. It took me over a year to find the courage.
Wise mentors told me, 'When you leave this, other doors will open.' With that in mind and desperate for freedom, I resigned. A rush of emotions came over me: we were the first Arabic TV show to talk about endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda, and put the spotlight on tourism in Bhutan.
The thing is, no one knew the price I was paying behind my carefully curated social media feed. What I was sharing on my socials was a filtered 10 per cent of my real life. Behind the glamour, a quiet toll grew. I felt increasingly isolated. People saw my social media and thought, 'She's living the life.' But really, I became a master at hiding the pain.
You'd see me jetsetting in helicopters, planes, riding horses – but with all that freedom of movement, going to far-flung corners of the world, I still lacked inner freedom. I often fell sick due to this high-stress life, constantly getting on long-haul flights, landing and having to go, go go.
I felt lonely, experiencing these places on my own. So many viewers came along to 'see' these countries with me – but no one could reminisce with me about it afterwards. All this travel was strictly professional, not personal.
The camera showed me exploring and experiencing spectacular places, but the reality was not so glamorous. What my real job entailed was securing sponsors, handling itineraries, writing scripts, sorting out visas, getting filming permits and insurance, doing the customs paperwork, and fine-tuning transport logistics. Once on location, I had to be camera ready, doing my own hair and make-up, while managing the schedule for the day and responding to clients. Once the cameras rolled, I had to be vibrant and engaging. And usually, I'd already be planning for the next trip. I did all of this on my own and was often met with 'not enough.' My team was amazing, but they were a technical crew, their involvement began just before take-off.
Beautiful hotels were used for sleep and showcasing on camera. Even in the spa, the cameraman followed. It became almost funny how different people's perceptions were. It looked like I was in the lap of luxury, but I still had to iron my own clothes.
There's a video of me hugging a radiator in a hotel room. Slumped over on the floor. At first it might seem funny; in it I even crack a smile through my coughing as I notice someone is filming. But at that time I was bent over in pain, trying to gain comfort through its warmth between takes as fear, relief, liberation. I had nothing lined up except a yoga teacher training trip. A gift to myself for choosing courage.
What followed was transformative. I began to value myself beyond external success. I started trusting my instincts and redefining success. I can't deny it started off as a dream – but it had an expiration date. I chose to give myself a life I innately desired, instead of a life that was a dream to many. There's nothing more rewarding than reclaiming oneself. Establishing boundaries will shift from feeling like a threat, to feeling liberated.
My advice? Your gut feeling is in fact your strongest instinct. Nurture and befriend it. Don't shy away from it. It is your body calling out to you, it is your body signalling to you – and it is your body's way of protecting you.
Yes, this was a very special role; one I had carved out for myself. Producing and presenting a travel show on the most-watched entertainment channel in the Arab world was a dream that I lived for eight years. I would gaze at the world map, envisioning where to go, and make it happen. The thrill of travelling the world, the joy of storytelling, and bringing the world closer to people's homes was incredible. Each experience was a badge of honour.
Millions resonated with every episode. I was visiting some of the most special places that existed. For example, I was struck with acute Covid. But the show – and the filming – had to go on. That was the foetal position I returned to between takes. Once the cameras started rolling, no one could tell I was sick.
I followed a similar pattern while getting struck down with allergies, having my body covered in bee stings, getting food poisoning. I thought being a strong, independent woman meant pushing through it all. My days stretched into 12 to 19 hour shifts. I kept telling myself how lucky I was. But I was gaslighting my body and instincts to keep up with the illusion.
Everything changed once I was able to get the strength to walk away. Now, I cherish slow mornings, my community, and the freedom to create when inspiration strikes. Within five months, I won an award for a short film and received a job offer. That's how the universe works. Once we trust, it responds.
So this is for the girl who dared to dream and the woman who had the courage to let go. Freedom is sweet. Trust your instincts. Cherish your worth. There's no one else like you. Here's to the adventure ahead.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
11 hours ago
- Zawya
Emirates will introduce third daily flight to Mauritius
Emirates has announced it will introduce a third daily flight to Mauritius, starting on 1 December. The additional service, to be operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft as EK709/710, will complement existing schedules and support the travel plans of Emirates customers planning trips to the popular destination from across its network of more than 140 points. Emirates currently serves Mauritius with two daily services aboard its flagship A380 aircraft, operating as EK701/702 and EK703/704. The addition of the third daily service, under a codeshare arrangement with Air Mauritius, will provide convenient flight timings to support travel itineraries and enable seamless connectivity for customers from the Middle East, Europe and the Americas travelling to the Indian Ocean holiday spot. The additional daily service will also provide seamless connections from and to Far East markets, where Emirates will actively promote the destination to audiences in Japan, China, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Passengers can now book seats to the exotic island destination in First Class, Business Class and Economy Class on flight EK709, to operate daily and departing Dubai at 06:55 hrs and arriving in Mauritius at 13:40 hrs. Flights from Mauritius, operating as EK710, will depart Mauritius at 18:30 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 01:10 hrs the next day. All times are local. Adnan Kazim, Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said: 'We would like to thank the Mauritian authorities for making an additional daily service possible. We have been proudly serving Mauritius since 2002 and our double daily A380 services have been a major success and contributor to the growth of the country's tourism industry. The additional daily service on our wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft will enable a more than 30 percent increase in capacity on the route, while also providing additional flight options for leisure and business travellers to seamlessly connect to flights.' 'We recently reaffirmed our codeshare partnership with Air Mauritius and our shared commitment to putting the destination on the global stage by facilitating steady growth in tourist demand for visits to Mauritius. We are also pleased to support and complement the operations of the national carrier, whose services have contributed to our success on this route. The additional daily service will allow both airlines to meet demand from global travellers.' -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


The National
12 hours ago
- The National
Travel bookings recovering after airspace closure during Israel-Iran conflict, says Gulf Air boss
Gulf Air is recording an increase in travel demand following a dip in passenger volumes after Bahrain and other Gulf countries briefly closed their airspace during the height of the Israel-Iran war. Bookings for the end of July and August are recovering after passengers cancelled or postponed their travel plans in June, Jeffrey Goh, chief executive of Gulf Air Group Holding, told The National. 'We were affected by the regional tensions in June and that affected demand clearly and affected passenger numbers but overall, in terms of where we fly to and from, demand is reasonable in terms of our outlook,' he said. Several Gulf countries temporarily closed their airspace on June 23 due to an Iranian attack on the US airbase Al Udeid in Qatar. Airlines scrambled to cancel flights and reroute planes, disrupting air travel across the region. The Bahrain airspace closure led to cancellations for the Manama-based airline, but passengers are now travelling into and through the Gulf region on a 'deferral basis', Mr Goh said. 'Those who had looked to travel in early July are pushing [their dates] to August. So we're seeing the numbers picking up again from the end of July and well into August,' he said. The broader challenge is to address the concerns of transit passengers from the East and West over whether it is safe to fly through hubs in the Middle East, Mr Goh added. 'Inevitably and unfortunately, we will not be able to correct that perception 100 per cent,' but organisations including Gulf Air, Bahrain's tourism authorities and local hotels are working to spread awareness about security in the region. This will 'take a bit of time' but the aviation industry has proven its resilience in stimulating demand and attracting transit passengers and visitors to the region, he said. Overall, demand in Asian markets is 'healthy', but some parts of the network are weaker and require stimulation including through competitive air fares. 'But overall in terms of volume, we see a reasonable, steady pace,' he said. Boeing 787 plane order Gulf Air last week agreed to buy 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with the option for an additional six. Mr Goh praised the new leadership of Boeing under chief executive Kelly Ortberg for steering the company's turnaround after years of challenges. 'There is progress in terms of improving Boeing's performance and improving Boeing's aircraft production,' he said. 'It cements the partnership we've had for many years.' The airline needed to 'join the queue for new aircraft today' because it takes manufacturers an average of up to seven years to deliver them. Gulf Air is finalising the exact delivery dates and is looking at 'early 2030s', Mr Goh said. At least 30 per cent of the order will be used to increase its fleet, while the rest will replace the older 787 widebodies to ensure a 'relatively young' average age of 6.8 years, he added. The airline operates 10 Boeing 787-9s, with two more to be delivered in 2026 and 2027. 'In the new order we have the option of including the [bigger] 787-10s in the fleet, but we don't need to decide now,' Mr Goh said. The new 787 order will also allow Gulf Air to boost capacity on popular long-haul destinations by replacing narrow-body aircraft with the wide-body planes, he said. 'Slots are a premium in some of these locations where you're not able to add more frequencies, so the alternative for us is to upgrade the capacity,' he said. Gulf Air also operates a fleet of Airbus A320s and A321s, with eight more narrowbodies to be delivered between 2025 and 2027. 'I don't foresee significant expansion of the narrow-body fleet at this time,' Mr Goh said, when asked about a potential order. The airline last week announced it would start flights from Bahrain to New York's John F Kennedy Airport in October. Gulf Air has a road map for the next five years as part of its 'calibrated, disciplined growth' and the announcement of new destinations such as New York is a 'manifestation' of that strategy to connect key business cities, leisure markets and religious centres, Mr Goh said. GE vs Rolls-Royce engines Gulf Air's new 787 aircraft will be powered by GE engines, a departure from previous purchases powered by Rolls-Royce engines. 'It was a very close call,' Mr Goh said. 'It required a lot of extensive internal deliberations and understanding the advantages and disadvantages of both engine types. It took us quite some time.' He said the evaluation was based on engine reliability, performance, fuel efficiency and time on wing (or the time the engine stays in workshops). The two 787s to be delivered in 2026 and 2027 will be fitted with GE engines, he added. The current 10 Boeing 787s operated by Gulf Air are equipped with Rolls-Royce's Trent 1000 engines. GE has a major market share on the 787 model while Rolls-Royce has long grappled with technical issues. However, the UK engine maker is upgrading the engine to make it more reliable. US tariffs and plane costs The Gulf Air chief said it is 'too early' to determine the impact of US tariffs on the cost of planes but the industry is watching closely. 'We've negotiated an all-encompassing price for our aircraft orders. What Boeing does with the [additional tax percentage] in terms of any parts they need to import to manufacture the aircraft is a matter for Boeing,' Mr Goh said. 'We are comfortable with the acquisition price.' However, the wider aviation industry is concerned about the impact of tariffs on the cost of parts and airframes. Also, the economic uncertainty stemming from the tariffs could hit consumer sentiment and corporate confidence, thereby dampening travel demand. 'We need to be very vigilant about the impact of these tariffs. We should be concerned about the general economic outlook for the industry," he said. 'If corporations are concerned about what the cost of business will look like, travel is often one of the first areas of discretionary spending that you address as a company.'


Arabian Business
a day ago
- Arabian Business
UAE passport ranks as 8th most powerful globally
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has solidified its position among the world's most powerful passports, climbing to 8 th place in the 2025 Henley Passport Index – a remarkable rise from 42 nd a decade ago that reflects the country's expanding diplomatic reach and visa liberalisation efforts. UAE passport holders can now travel to 185 destinations without a prior visa, making it the highest-ranked Middle Eastern nation and the only major riser to break into the global Top 10 in recent years. The Henley Passport Index, which is compiled from exclusive travel data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), shows an increasing shift in global mobility power towards Asia and the Gulf region, with emerging economies making steady gains as traditional Western powers experience declines. Explore the latest Henley Passport Index, the original, authoritative ranking of all the world's passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. — Henley & Partners (@HenleyPartners) July 22, 2025 'The UAE stands out as a model of strategic diplomacy,' said Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners. 'Its rise reflects years of consistent efforts to build reciprocal visa agreements.' Top 10 most powerful passports — 2025 Henley Passport Index Singapore – 193 destinations Japan, South Korea – 190 France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Denmark, Ireland – 189 Sweden, Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway – 188 Greece, Switzerland, New Zealand – 187 United Kingdom – 186 Malta – 185 United Arab Emirates – 185 Czechia – 184 United States, Canada, Australia, Hungary – 182 Gulf and Asian nations driving mobility growth Alongside the UAE's gains, Saudi Arabia has added four new visa-free destinations in 2025, increasing its total to 91 and lifting it four places to 54 th. China has also significantly expanded its visa openness, now granting visa-free entry to 75 countries, including all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, various South American nations, and some European states — helping boost mobility for GCC citizens. India has climbed eight spots to 77 th, while China ranks 60 th, both among the fastest risers in recent years. Decline of traditional passport powers By contrast, the United States has slipped to 10 th place, offering visa-free access to 182 destinations, its lowest ranking in two decades. The United Kingdom now ranks 6 th, down from first place in 2015. Other countries experiencing declines include Venezuela, which fell 15 places to 45 th, and Canada, which dropped four spots. 'Passport power increasingly reflects active diplomacy and global engagement. Citizens from traditional powers like the US and UK are seeking alternative citizenship and residence options amid rising geopolitical uncertainty,' said Steffen.