Metta Sudsawat, one of the founders of the product-design company Propaganda, has just released "Rabai Hai Aroi" ("Paint Something Delicious"). It's a vegetarian cookbook, but it celebrates her life-changing career shift.

Propaganda had its ups and downs, but the firm was doing extremely well when Metta said farewell at age 42 to pursue her passion for painting.

She was also packing in a fairly glamorous lifestyle, not to mention a fantastic salary.

"I was fed up with the fierce competition. I felt it wasn't what I was good at, and it didn't make me a happy person. It was all about managing, executing and fighting for the firm."

As for art, Metta had been a hobbyist for several years before she decided that painting and drawing were the true source of happiness for her.

"My sisters and I were spending a few days in Hua Hin. Someone shouted, 'Let's take a photo!' but to our surprise, no one had brought a camera.

"I had packed a box of watercolours with me, so we ended up drawing and painting ourselves and the surroundings instead of taking pictures."

This bit of impromptu resourcefulness just made Metta yearn for more.

"When I got back from that trip, I realised that the happiness you get from painting lasts longer. It's a happiness that's not hard to find. And I can make it happen anytime, all the time."

Metta had attended art school after completing her secondary education.

"Unfortunately my dad was afraid I wouldn't be able to earn a living from art, so my dream had to be abandoned."

But with her passion rekindled from the beach holiday, she began taking weekend painting courses. It was a few years yet before she recognised that this was the direction she wanted her life to take.

When the time came, she was resolute.

"It wasn't that difficult making a complete change," Metta says. "The hardest thing was taking care of my finances. Since I'd never expected to lose my source of income at 42, I'd been spending extravagantly. The more you earn, the more you spend.

"I ditched the new Beetle I was still paying for - cars are just status symbols anyway - and my mother gave me her favourite old car. I've been driving it ever since.

"When it comes to luxurious stuff, I find it ridiculous to show off when people don't care at all about what you have. At home I started using a fan instead of the air conditioning.

"I cleared my huge credit-card debt. I was learning a new lesson: Life without debt is pure bliss. I had to make a deal with my friends that I could no longer spend as much as I used to."

Metta feels fortunate that her family and friends immediately accepted her decision to quit her job.

"My close friends were mature enough to see that I'd had my fill of the business world, and they'd known for a long time that I loved painting and I was serious. My sisters were very supportive too."

And, going for a complete change, Metta abruptly stopped eating meat.

"I dreamt that I was living on a farm with chicken, fish and ducks, and when my mum said she wanted to kill those poor animals for food, I couldn't stand it."

Metta says she realised that once you love yourself, you begin forwarding the love to other beings. Her resolution to be a vegetarian has led her to embrace His Majesty the King's guidance on "sufficiency economy" as well.

She now shuns supermarkets in favour of simple neighbourhood markets, where she's found the inspiration to write "Rabai Hai Aroi".

"I want to tell people that being a vegetarian isn't boring," she says. "At least I know that I enjoy eating what I cook. I keep changing the menu from day to day."

Between her art and her vegetarian diet, Metta feels whole at last.

"Today I can say I am a happy person. When I wake up in the morning I think of what I'll make for breakfast. After a good meal I start doing my drawing and painting. Then I think about what's for lunch and dinner."

Anyone considering a total revamp in their life can learn something from Metta: Daring to take the first step makes the steps that follow that much easier.

Nattareewan Sirichantarat

The Nation