Freedom is a state of mind
So we are now 2 weeks into our 7 month journey and it feels like I have seen and experienced so much already.
Usually this is about the time I would be heading back home after a holiday but it looks like this is just the start! What has struck me is that I have already started to miss my family and friends. It’s strange because there are often occasions back home where I won’t see my family or friends for this length of time and I don’t get this particular feeling I have now. They feel very far away knowing that I won’t see them for a long time…
I have found it liberating not having to worry about anything except food and what my immediate plans are for tomorrow or the day after. I’m grateful for all the planning we did ahead of this trip; having set plans for the first few months has removed all stress and allowed me to just embrace the journey I am embarking on.
For the first time in a long time I am entering the right head space. Before this journey, my head was overly populated with many of life’s complexities. In fact, this was one of the main reasons I wanted to go traveling for an extended period of time as I needed to get back some of this head space again.
It’s only when there is room in your head you start reflecting on the other aspects of life which you may have neglected previously – your happiness, your family, your career, your life outside of work, your future direction….
We are on this earth for a very short period of time and it’s too easy to be weighed down by city life without lifting your head up to see what is going on around you. Before you know it, a great deal of time has passed, leaving you wondering why you didn’t start enjoying what life has to offer sooner.
Don’t get me wrong, I have a very rewarding and comfortable life where I have a loving and supportive family, a good job, great work colleagues and work life balance. I would never sacrifice these things permanently but I do believe you owe it to yourself to go out and explore the world and free your mind for an extended period of time before you slot back in to the daily grind (if that’s ultimately what you want). After all, it will always be there.
