Recently married, my wife and I stumbled into a surprising crossroads on October, 20th, 2022.
I had just started my practice as a psychiatrist, seeing patients in Santa Barbara, California. She was in her last year of graduate school, also on California’s Central Coast. Just a young couple getting their footing, an unsuspecting onlooker might presume. Paying back their loans, saving for retirement, and getting ready to start a family.
That’s what we thought too. The only problem was this: I was done practicing medicine.
On October 20th, 2022, just a month after I’d earned my board certification in psychiatry, I left medicine. Why? Because I never wanted to be a physician. Seeing patients and supporting healing was an honor and privilege, but I sensed that if I continued down a path I never loved—one I’d been walking for eight years—it would impact everything; I could lose my wife, Keti; and I could lose myself. So, I resigned into the void, aiming to find work that was meaningful, sustainable, and capable of paying our Southern California rent.
Having just married and moved in together, we needed furniture. And furniture ain’t cheap! I noticed our hand-me-down furniture could use a new coat of paint and a fresh layer of stain. So, I went to Home Depot and bought a sander, one paint brush, a quart of Varathane stain, and a quart of emerald green paint. And got to work. At night, Keti took over the painting as I continued sanding and staining. Within a week, we had a new bedroom set of dressers and nightstands. The following week, I saw a children’s picnic table on the street, took it home, sanded it down, put a fresh coat of paint on it, and flipped it for $60. Such were the humble beginnings.
Slowly, piece by piece, my mid-life crisis found footing. And we started restoring furniture full-time and haven’t looked back.
Now, we live in Asheville, North Carolina, one year later. In our home, we’ve successfully upcycled twelve pieces of furniture across our living spaces. Twelve! And our mission is to continue fighting to give used furniture a second life… and to make it look good.
Find our full collection of work on Instagram (@fightfurniture). All of our current listings can be found on Facebook Marketplace (direct link here).
At Fight Furniture, we offer full, custom restoration for desks, dressers, tables, and chairs. Send your idea to fightandlovefurniture@gmail.com, and we’ll get it done in a two week turnaround.
From a life I was not, I learned who I was and learned 32 lessons I’ll never forget. Get my free e-book outlining each lesson, HERE.
