Selected Scenes from the Movie of My Life
"Who am I?" A simple question with a complex answer.
"When you’re on your deathbed and your life flashes before your eyes, make sure it’s a movie worth watching."
This isn’t just a quote I stumbled upon—it’s the mantra that guides every decision I make. I actually picture the subtitles rolling at the end of my life’s film, the soundtrack accompanying the most dramatic scenes, and sometimes, I even glance toward my imaginary camera (always up and to the left), as if telling my future audience, “You see what’s happening here?”
Oh, you don’t have an imaginary camera you look at in moments of revelation or frustration?
This post is a short trailer for a film still in production—selected scenes that reveal who I really am. Not a plot summary, not a neatly organized biography, but a glimpse into the moments that shaped the protagonist of this journey.
Scene One: The Decision
📍 Tel Aviv, Israel | September 2022
The “Year of Money” had ended. A year where I lived in the heart of Tel Aviv, managed a bar, and reached net salaries of $4.5k. Despite paying$1,200 for a tiny one-bedroom apartment and surviving in one of the world’s most expensive cities, I managed to save nearly $40k.
And just when I hit my salary peak, I found myself at yet another life crossroads. The same one that visits every few years, asking: What do I really want?
Usually, the answer was more money, more financial security, or something along those lines. Not this time. The universe worked overtime to make me realize—it was time to chase a dream. Not a grand or complicated dream, just something I’d never had the courage to do. There was always another excuse. Sound familiar?
“I want to bartend on some beach in Mexico.”
That was my answer this time. A one-way ticket, a journey to start, a life in a suitcase, learning to live with less, meeting people, moving forward without knowing where to next, discovering the world.
It sounds amazing to just drop everything and head to some beach, but the truth is—I probably wanted it so badly that I structured my life to make leaving easy. Life had taught me not to rely on anyone, that most relationships are transactional, and that people will disappoint you.
I wasn’t afraid of getting lost or coming back after a month admitting it wasn’t for me. There was only one thing I feared—that I’d meet someone who would make me want to stay. And then, I wouldn’t know how to handle that.
🎬 Behind the Scenes: People ask how I found the courage. The truth? You don’t need courage when you want something with all your heart. I prepared for this moment—but not in the way you’d think. Not by planning an itinerary or reading guides, but by creating a life that was easy to leave. What looked like a sudden leap was actually a gradual, deliberate process.
Scene Two: Transparency
📍 Melbourne, Australia | April 2023
I’m celebrating this year as the most significant year of my life. Thirty. If you had told young Maya that she would celebrate her 30th birthday in Australia, she would have been overwhelmed with joy, knowing she had truly made her dream come true.
So much has happened this past year—miles, continents, countries, languages, cities, apartments, jobs, cultures, parties, disasters, experiences. But in the end, what stays with me most is the people. Their stories—that’s what I’ve found most fascinating. And now, I realize how much my own story fascinates me too.
Sometimes, I don’t even recognize myself. It still feels surreal that six months into this journey, I actually did it. Today’s Maya is the bravest person I know—and maybe a little crazy. Otherwise, how do you explain this chaos that is my life? And I chose, consciously, to share everything—everything—publicly.
I got plenty of advice to share only certain parts, to remember that not everything belongs on Facebook. But I believe in transparency, and I’m not a museum. I won’t just show the hard parts, nor only the successful ones. This is my story. This is me. This is what’s happening—for better or worse.
🎬 Behind the Scenes: Transparency is the boldest choice I’ve ever made. Not leaving home, not jumping off a tower, not even diving with sharks—but deciding to expose everything, with no filters. Yes, it’s terrifying. But there’s also immense freedom in it. When you stop trying to present only the “perfect” parts, you can finally breathe.
Scene Three: Assertiveness
📍 Townsville, Australia | August 2023
Something shifted in me here in Townsville. Beyond the whole paycheck-police fiasco, I discovered an assertive side of myself I never knew existed. Not only did I lack this quality before, but I also envied those who had it.
Ever since I was a kid, people told me, “You need to be more assertive.” I agreed with them, but deep down, I believed “I just don’t have it in me.” I was too nice. Even when I said “no,” it came with a smile (which is why no one ever took it seriously).
Assertiveness means setting boundaries, which, for me, felt like climbing Everest—I had never learned how. Assertiveness means knowing what you want, and that’s where you totally lost me. Assertiveness means being direct, and I’ve spent my whole life oscillating between “I don’t know” and “we’ll see.”
At work, I said, “I want to be a bartender at the cocktail bar.” Not “I’d love to” or “Maybe, if possible”—just “I want.” And then I backed it up: “You mean that guy with barely any experience? I’m far more qualified. You’ve seen my resume, I’m great at what I do—give me a chance to prove it.”
The next day, the schedule was published—I got three shifts at the cocktail bar (open only four days a week) and another at the main bar. It felt like I had unlocked another life feature I’d been waiting for forever.
🎬 Behind the Scenes: Real change isn’t always dramatic or cinematic. It happens in quiet conversations, in moments of internal decision. I recognized the pattern that held me back the most—my inability to say out loud “I want.” As if the mere act of stating it wasn’t legitimate. Once I let go of that, a whole new world of possibilities opened up.
Scene Four: Writing
📍 Melbourne, Australia | November 2023
My journey around the world wasn’t just geographical. In every new place, I discovered a new part of myself. Every challenge I faced peeled back another layer of my identity.
Writing was the key. When I started documenting my experiences, not just what I saw, but what I felt and thought, I began seeing myself more clearly.
Sometimes it’s scary to uncover sides of yourself you never knew existed. But it’s also liberating. Because once you truly know yourself, you can finally begin to accept yourself.
Suddenly, things about me made sense, why I’m drawn to certain things, what really matters to me, and how I want to live my life.
🎬 Behind the Scenes: Writing is the most honest mirror I have. When I write, I can’t run from myself. The words force me to confront my truth—even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s embarrassing. But every time I dare to write that truth, I feel a little more whole.
To Be Continued…
When I started this journey, I had no idea I would become a blogger. I didn’t know I would discover so many new sides of myself. I never imagined that you would become part of my story.
But that’s the magic of life on the move—it keeps surprising you. Sometimes, I wonder what the me from two years ago would think of today’s Maya. Would she recognize me? Maybe. Maybe not. But I’m sure she’d be excited to see where this journey is taking her.
So, I invite you to stay with me for the ride. After all, a new chapter is written every day, and in every place, a new scene unfolds. And who knows? Maybe the next one will be the most unexpected of all.
Because the best movies are the ones where you never see the next twist coming.
The journey continues! Read the second part of this story here: More Scenes from the Movie of My Life
Want to start from the beginning? Visit The Journey Through Time and discover how it all began.
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Lost your way? Perfect! Visit The Journey Compass if you still want to find yourself.
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Thank you for being part of this journey.