It’s an unspoken truth that you never feel truly ready for the big changes you want to make in your life.
More often than not, the hesitation is that of your mind. Anxiously, it asks – what if this happens? Okay, but what if that or the other? You only need the slightest intention to step into something new and you’ll quickly find that the mind is an expert at coming up with hundreds of worse case scenarios, each more elaborate than the previous.
But if you stop and check in with your heart – and you carefully listen to her whispers, you will most likely find a firm answer. One that may push you outside your comfort zone, but at the same time, one that promises to bring a brand new, exiting story into your life. So, a moment comes when you have no choice but to take the leap of faith.
You decide to quit your job, pack enough belongings to fit into a backpack and set on an open-ended adventure into the unknown.
There is no denying that travelling is exciting. There are so many incredible sights to see in this world, so many once in a lifetime experiences to be had. But travelling long-term is also a lot of work, starting with all the prep you do before you set off. Just packing alone – you need to make countless decisions on what is worth taking up the limited space in your backpack! Not to mention all the research, bookings, as well as striking the right balance between planning in advance and leaving room for flexibility and serendipity.
And then there’s the emotional aspect as well. Trying to see as much of your friends and family as possible while you still have them close. Saying goodbye to your favourite places and routines. And inevitably, letting go of an old version of yourself as you open up to new experiences.
All this being said, it’s unsurprising that, as I was boarding the plane to Rio de Janeiro on 25th February, my heart was at peace, but my mind was overly busy. Excitement, worry and tiredness all mingled and fed the sense of anticipation. This is it – for more than a year, I had been dreaming of this exact moment and now, after weeks and months of preparation, I was actually living it.
The adventure has begun.
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