I have many dreams but one of my biggest dreams was to travel. Other then a trip to Mexico when I was 18 and a few cruises to the Caribbean, I had never left the country I was born in. I suppose I could have just started taking more vacations, but I know that there is a big difference in "vacation traveling" and "extended travel".
I really wanted more then to just visit a new place as a "tourist"- I wanted it to become my life. I did not want an itinerary. I did not want to jump from hotel to hotel and be taken care of. I wanted the sensation of figuring it all out on my own.
I really wanted more then to just visit a new place as a "tourist"- I wanted it to become my life. I did not want an itinerary. I did not want to jump from hotel to hotel and be taken care of. I wanted the sensation of figuring it all out on my own.
I wanted time to immerse myself in the countries I visit. I wanted time to understand the culture, learn how to cook the food, speak the language, I wanted to be able to spend enough time in the places I visit to become a part of the community.
We all know how easy it is to get stuck in our day to day routines. For years I felt like all my responsibilities where more important then my dreams. But one day, something major shifted in my head and in my heart.
I realized that there was no one stopping me from all the things I wanted, except for me. I decided I could no longer wait for that "one day" to arrive. Today was the day.
I realized that there was no one stopping me from all the things I wanted, except for me. I decided I could no longer wait for that "one day" to arrive. Today was the day.
I experienced many things during the time that I was selling everything I owned, quitting my job and preparing to move to a foreign country I had never even visited with my two children. I was thrilled and scared to death.
I've only been living my life this way for a little more then a year. It has been the most rewarding, amazing year of my life. I find it's really hard to even describe all that has changed inside of me. I will try to express some of it here in this space, but for now all I can say is that whatever was inside of me, tugging at my heart, the little whispers in my head, telling me to get out of my comfort zone and start living - they were right!
Travel is an amazing teacher. I would like to urge anyone who is waiting for "one day" to come to really start looking into taking some time off from your life and start doing it....now. You will not regret it and you may find that you are unable to return to the former life you are living now. All the reasons you have for not doing it - money, children, bills, job security - those things are just excuses. If there is a will, there is a way.
Travel is an amazing teacher. I would like to urge anyone who is waiting for "one day" to come to really start looking into taking some time off from your life and start doing it....now. You will not regret it and you may find that you are unable to return to the former life you are living now. All the reasons you have for not doing it - money, children, bills, job security - those things are just excuses. If there is a will, there is a way.
Here are a few resources that may be helpful to anyone who would like to learn more about long term travel:
Books I've Read & Recommend:
