How I’d Spend Nine Lives

Updated Published

Eve Bailey Student Contributor, The University of Kansas

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at KU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

I was scrolling on TikTok the other day when I saw a video of how a person would spend their life if they had nine of them. This specific video had lives that included being a chef in Paris, being a schoolteacher, and more. I found this concept to be quite original, and I believed it would make for an enjoyable article to write. Below, I have listed how I would spend each of my nine lives.

Bed and breakfast owner in Rhode Island

For my first life, I would own a bed and breakfast, like Lorelei Gilmore. I really enjoy cleaning, decorating and baking, which seems to be some of the most important parts of owning a bed and breakfast. Over spring break last year, I traveled to Rhode Island and stayed in a bed and breakfast where we got fresh pastries every morning outside our door. You could see the ocean from my window, and little shops surrounded the bed and breakfast, which wraps up all my favorite things into one place. I would love to have a best friend working alongside me and helping me make the bed and breakfast the perfect spot for tourists to stay while visiting Rhode Island.

Avocado toast, fruits and nuts, and coffee. — Photo by Mathilda Khoo from Unsplash

Local florist who lives in a small suburb of Chicago

I visited Chicago this summer and absolutely fell in love with the city. The architecture, the culture, the restaurants, and the shops are all so perfect, and the people were all so nice. I have always loved flowers and thoroughly enjoyed placing them together in beautiful arrangements. I would love to have a local floral shop in a small suburb of Chicago where I can have customers that I know well and that I can connect with. This life would be really peaceful but also fulfilling because I have the opportunity to provide flowers for people throughout some of their best times and the most difficult times.

Assistant to a fashion designer in New York City

In The Devil Wears Prada, when Emily says, “A million girls would kill for this job,” she was right. Now I know that Andy is put through crazy things as Miranda’s assistant; I think this job would be so fun. I love organizing things and planning events, so I truly think I would adore this job. I would be able to go to fashion shows with my designer, answer press questions for my designer and I would be able to wear incredible outfits, obviously. I would live in a tiny apartment with my really fluffy cat, and in my free time, I would write articles about what it is like to be an assistant for the fashion designer.

Ballet dancer dancing The Nutcracker in NYC

I remember the first time I watched The Nutcracker, and I was completely obsessed. The Nutcracker’s costume designs and the aesthetic of ballet have always captivated me. And where would be a better place to perform the Nutcracker than in New York City during Christmas? I already love Christmas and I would really love to be able to bring some Christmas magic to those who love the ballet. In high school, I was a part of musicals and plays that my school put on, and I loved that feeling of being on stage and performing for people, so I feel like having the opportunity to spend a life as a ballet dancer would be something that I would consider rewarding.

pointe shoes close — Photo by Nihal Demirci from Unsplash

Artist living on the Florida island beach

Every few years, my family and I travel to North Captiva Island for summer vacation. This little island off the coast of Florida has beautiful vacation houses, sandy beaches, and manatees. This has consistently been one of my favorite destinations, and I find myself feeling quite sad when it is time to return home. Even though winter is my favorite season, I would love to spend a life living in a pink house that rests right against the ocean. There, I would be an artist, creating various forms of art while gazing out at the ocean. In my spare time I would be found paddle boarding near the docks to hopefully see manatees and snorkeling for shells.

Be an author living in the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is such a beautiful place that I could really enjoy living in. Being in a place that is so full of nature and has colder weather would be my dream place to live. Being an author has always been a backup plan for me, and by living in such a beautiful place, I feel like I could really get into the mindset to create some perfect books. I would reside in a small cabin situated by the lake, where I could sit on my porch with a cup of chai and write for hours. I would reside alone, accompanied by a small dog that follows me wherever I go. I would also constantly be making treats for me and my neighbors over the weekends.

Au Pair for a wealthy family in the London countryside

Since watching The Haunting of Bly Manor, I have believed that being an au pair (a live-in babysitter) would be both fulfilling and exciting. I have always loved children, and I would love to spend time with kids and teach them schoolwork while living in a large countryside mansion. I would teach the kids how to garden, ride horses and make crafts, and in my spare time I would read on the balcony of the mansion. I would just really like to have the responsibility of looking after someone’s children while also living in a large mansion that is most definitely haunted.

Be a travel writer and travel the world

For my eighth life, I would love to be a travel writer and be able to visit either little or big vacation spots and write about my experience. I would always be able to be on vacation, and I would be able to discover all the little niche stores or experiences that vacationers should visit or do. I would have the best outfits for each vacation, and I would spend my time getting to know the locals and their favorite spots. I love traveling, but I have never been outside the country, so spending a life running around the world and visiting vacation spots sounds like a great life to me.

roadtrip map — Photo by Tabea Damm from Unsplash

Own a small farm in Scotland

I grew up on a farm, so I have a lot of experience working with animals, and for one of my lives I would love to live on a little farm in the Scottish countryside where I raise chickens, horses, bunnies, ducks, and cows. I would live in a little cottage with ivy covering the walls, where my chickens basically live in my house. All of my animals would have names, of course, and they would also have personalized collars or halters. I would take eggs and homemade jams to the farmer’s markets every Sunday, and I would live a quiet little life with all my animals.