The Beginning of the Story of Infinite Trust in Life

For a long time, I felt the desire to tell my story. To tell the world who I am. To slowly share pieces of my life with people through my writings. I admit, for me, this is a big step. And I also admit that before posting this article, I was full of doubts. Old fears resurfaced. But because I know where I'm going, I listened to them, and then waved them goodbye with a smile on my face.

So much for the introduction... Now, let's embark on a journey through one of the most exciting chapters of my life: The Old Post Office.

When a big change knocks on the door of an entirely ordinary life...

Life usually takes paths we never even dreamed existed. And so it was with our Old Post Office. I had never thought about that dilapidated building, which stood abandoned and decaying in the beautiful Jezersko. But one day, Jure, my great visionary, as I like to call him, tells me that he's been watching the Old Post Office for a year and that he can't find a suitable buyer for it.

I didn't understand what he was talking about at all, what he had in mind. At that time, we were building a house and were deeply involved in that project. We both had regular jobs. We lived what seemed like a completely ordinary life. Life with loans, worries, countless obligations. But (apparently) also a life with many dreams.

I was employed in the army and extremely unhappy in a job that gave me no satisfaction, allowed no creativity, suffocated me. I can say that I was dying a little every day. I admit, quietly I had always wished that someday Jure and I would create something together and work for ourselves. But I didn't know what I would do in life, it was clear to me only that I liked to work and that nothing was too hard for me as long as I felt a sense and purpose in what I did.

Now, back to the Old Post Office... Jure finally suggested that we should still go and see the Old Post Office. At that moment, many fears arose in me, and a literal alarm went off in my head: "What would we even do with this house? We can't afford it anyway, as we already have a huge loan!" But Jure insisted. I know that at that moment he had already decided within himself that we would somehow acquire the Old Post Office. He was only afraid whether he would have my support in this "crazy" project or not.

"You two have completely lost your minds!"

I can't speak of love at first sight with the Old Post Office. I was horrified at the first visit. Everything was neglected, overgrown, the facade was falling off the house, it smelled incredibly bad inside, everything was damp. It was like a haunted house. I couldn't even imagine what Jure and I would do with this house. But he already had a clear vision. He wanted to put the Old Post Office on the map of tourist attractions in his beloved Jezersko. At that time, nothing was clear to me. "How should we even tackle this, when we already have a huge loan?! Why do we need this?"

In addition, we received practically no support from the people we talked to about our intention. They thought we were a little crazy. We also encountered negative responses from banks. But Jure persisted and asked me to trust him. We wrote a business plan, which today I can hardly say deserves such a title. At the seventh bank we visited, they finally listened to us. They were willing to lend us money when the Old Post Office would already generate some cash flow. Finally, a glimmer of hope appeared from somewhere!

We met with the owner, who saw seriousness and that burning desire in us. She felt that we really wanted the Old Post Office (well, at least Jure did). She decided to rent us the house for a year. And we, during that time, would try to do everything in our power to bring the Old Post Office to life. We agreed to her conditions, and Jure already had a crazy plan for the Old Post Office to be open in five weeks (!). There was no more time for thinking, we had to roll up our sleeves.

Both Jure and I took time off from work and, with the team we had previously built our house with, started working. We worked for 20 hours a day, our little Živa, who was barely three years old at the time, was looked after by a babysitter. After the first week of renovation, we were already deep in the red, and panic began to grip me. But Jure persisted. That period was really difficult because we had to constantly borrow money from people and literally lived from hand to mouth.

At that time, I couldn't sleep, I was plagued by diarrhea, I was infinitely afraid. But in the end, I accepted everything and told myself that we would see things through to the end. And after five hellish weeks, we finally opened the Old Post Office! At first, it operated as a hostel and campsite, and over the years, we slowly expanded and diversified our offerings. Given how many things went wrong during that time, I am convinced today that someone was watching over us the whole time.

Soon after the opening, I started seriously considering leaving my job in the army and staying at home. Jure was quite hesitant about this because he wanted this decision to truly come from me, and later, I wouldn't blame him for anything, considering he was the initiator of the whole story.

Big Decisions, Even Bigger Fears

I knew deep down that there was no longer a place for me in the army. Every day there, I lost a piece of myself. At the same time, I didn't believe in myself at all and in my ability to take over the management of the Old Post Office. I had no idea that I was capable of such a thing. Unlike Jure, I didn't know what my role at the Old Post Office was supposed to be. I only saw more and more work and was determined to work for myself, for the three of us.

I was immensely afraid because I had no clue about business. I didn't know how to set prices, I had no resources for marketing... Yet, despite everything, in the spring of 2014, I gave an irrevocable resignation. I was afraid, very afraid. My parents already thought I had finally lost it. But that was my decision. My big turning point. When I overcame the fear, I only then realized what a big favor I did myself.

At the beginning, due to lack of knowledge and experience, I made costly mistakes, but there was no other way at that time. I learned as I went along. In the first few years, Jure and I more than once wondered who we were working for because at the end of the month, we had almost nothing left. But we persevered. I was literally a jack-of-all-trades: a cleaner, director, chambermaid, waitress, I dealt with marketing, reservations, took care of finances...

In addition, I struggled with my sense of self-worth for a long time. At the beginning, it was incredibly difficult. Especially for someone like me, since I didn't bring any good self-esteem and self-confidence from my primary family. But I was persistent and eager for knowledge. And so, I slowly put together my story. I realized that I didn't want to offer low-cost services but really devote myself to the guests, give them myself.

When You Feel with Every Cell in Your Body That You're on the Right Path

Last year, I finally felt what I myself wanted. In between, I always felt like I was fulfilling Jure's dreams. But in the end, I was the one who was pushing the heart of the Old Post Office with all my might. Of course, I had countless crises... I wanted to go back to work, I felt suffocated being at home all the time, there were constant challenges with money. How many times did I seriously doubt myself!

In this time, I learned a lot about myself and made many shifts and changes. I got to know myself really well and realized that there are no limits for me. I don't let myself be limited by limiting beliefs anymore. I approach things thoughtfully, but I also understand that sometimes you just have to let things happen. People often get caught up in a vicious circle of control at any cost. With fear and the desire to act and control everything, we destroy a lot of things. Often we don't know what's best for us. Believe me, I made such mistakes my whole life.

Another big turning point for me was my 40th birthday. At that time, a person asks themselves whether they are doing the right thing, whether they are doing what they would like to do for the rest of their lives... I felt the story of the Old Post Office more and more and wished that I could do things my way. Jure was indeed its creator from the beginning, but now I am slowly taking over. Years ago, I realized what kind of work suits me and how I can offer the most to the Old Post Office.

I set new rules and took a slightly different path. I wanted our guests to feel at home, accepted. I wanted them to feel safe here. So that I could take the time for them and listen to their wishes and needs. Today I can say that we succeeded.

For me, the biggest reward is satisfied guests who like to come back. That means a lot to me. In something that was once (only) Jure's story, since I didn't even know what role I should play in it, today I can really give my soul, my energy. And I run things my way. As I feel. So, in conclusion, a big thank you to my Jure for daring to see the bigger picture so many years ago and taking me on this exciting journey.

Thank you also to you for persevering until the end. I'll be glad if you continue to follow me.
 

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