A man has quit his corporate job after “hitting rock bottom” and moved to Thailand to chase his dream of being a Muay Thai fighter.
Richard Green says he was “losing the will to live” due to stress and burnout from his career as a sales director.
The 44-year-old was also struggling with addiction and alcoholism before making a life-changing decision.
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He decided to move to Thailand to pursue Muay Thai and is running fitness and wellness for treats for people dealing with the issues he experienced for years.
“I’d spent years in the corporate world and quietly developed a long battle with addiction and alcoholism,” Richard, who is from London but lives in Phuket, Thailand, told Need To Know.
“On the outside everything looked fine, but internally, I was exhausted and unhappy.
“The long hours, pressure and lifestyle just weren’t sustainable for me anymore.
“I realised I wasn’t actually living, I was just coping.”
Aged 38, Richard got clean and started rebuilding his life with help from family and friends.
He even moved to the countryside in Bedfordshire to renovate a house and ground himself in a simpler, calmer life.
He added: “But fighting had always been a dream of mine.
“Eventually, I decided that if I didn’t try it now, I never would.
“That’s when I chose to move to Thailand and seriously pursue Muay Thai.
“Once I got clear-headed, I decided to chase my dreams and live my life free from fear.”
Richard says his family was supportive through his recovery from addiction and alcoholism.
He said: “I honestly don’t think I’d have turned my life around without them.
“They might not have fully understood every decision, but they trusted me and backed me.
“That meant everything.
“Family, for me, is like calm in the middle of a storm.”
Richard says his corporate colleagues were “surprised and a bit upset” at his decision.
He added: “Leaving a stable career to move to Thailand and fight isn’t exactly conventional.
“But life moves on.
“Sometimes what looks like a bad decision at first turns out to be the best thing that ever happens.
“You only really understand it in hindsight.”
Richard now works at Elite Atoll Fitness, helping others deal with burnout or high-stress careers through training, recovery, mindset work and community.
He’s also continuing to work on his own mindset and sobriety.
Richard’s life in Thailand is “completely different” to his former experience in London.
He said: “London felt rushed and stressful.
“It was constant emails, deadlines and late nights.
“My life in Thailand is much simpler but still busy in a healthier way.
“I wake up early, pray, meditate, walk my dog, teach clients, work on the business, study, train Muay Thai and cook my own food.
“It’s structured and disciplined, but peaceful.
“I focus on my health, my work and helping other people.
“There’s a lot less noise.”
