*Some of the links below are affiliate links that may allow me to earn a small commission.
Travel saved me because it opened my mind to the complexities of the world. It showed me that there was more to life than working an 8-5 job that I hated. The corporate world was a great way for me to start my journey to becoming an adult. It taught me so much. After removing those shackles that held me down, I started to travel. I then realized that there is much more to life, and I want to be a part of that more.
How I Lost Myself
Before talking about how I found myself through traveling, I need to explain how I lost myself. I was working over 7 years at the same 8-5 job. I loved it in the beginning, but the culture drastically changed as the management of the company changed. My daily work experiences no longer fell in line with my personal goals. I was beyond stressed; I was crying almost every day.
My job, albeit putting food on my table and paying my bills, was negatively affecting my personal relationships. It was also negatively affecting my mental and physical health. I’m sure you can relate, as most people in the world always find themselves stuck in this same position. Most people hate their jobs and only stay there because it is a paycheck. Well, one day, after having a heated exchanged with one of the managers, I decided that I had enough. I quit my job, with no other job in place.
Realizing I Lost Myself
I had recently gotten married, which is another very interesting story in and of itself. Basically, I had my own real life “90 day fiancé” experience, crazy right? Thankfully, I had my husband to fall back on, because he has an amazing job that provided for the family. However, I have always had a job for over 10 years and now that I had nothing, I felt lost. I no longer knew who I was without a job to report to. How am I supposed to pass the time in each day?
I was distraught; crying almost as much as when I had a job that I hated. I realized that I needed to find myself again; it was necessary to reinvent myself. I needed to figure out, exactly who I am. Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to do this, but I cried out to God and asked Him for guidance. Each time I needed help in the past, He was always there to pull me through. And that is how the journey to finding myself began.
Starting the Journey of Finding Myself Through Travel
When I got married, I had to move out of Belize to be with my husband. It wasn’t known at the time, but that was the first step to finding myself through travel. I was in a new environment, surrounded by people I didn’t know. I was far away from my friends, my family, and everything that made me feel comfortable. Little did I know, this is exactly what I needed to break out of my comfort zone and rediscover myself.
My husband and I travel a lot because of his job. Every month we are in a different place experiencing new things, new people and new food. This made me realize that I no longer needed to hide the person I have always wanted to be. I could dress how I want, act how I want, and be as crazy as I wanted to be. Absolutely no one knew me so nothing was holding me back. Everyone I came across would probably never see me again.
Finding Myself Through Travel
I started to become more bold in how I presented myself, and the compliments started pouring in. I received many compliments on my “new” self. This gave me even more confidence, to be who I wanted to be without the constraints of social acceptance. Travel made me stop giving a damn about public opinion. Travel made me happier, bolder, brighter, and more confident. Most importantly, it brought me closer to God as I kept witnessing the beauty of His creations.
I wrote a poem when I was a teenager about Who I Am. I am now fully living in my truth, and I couldn’t be happier. That thing you’ve been wanting to do, but didn’t have the courage to do….. Do it!!! I promise you will never regret facing your fears and following your dreams. You might come across setbacks along the way, but treat them as learning experiences and keep moving forward. Absolutely no successful person had a smooth sailing experience. Follow me on my travel journey on Instagram. Happy traveling!!!!
THE BEST ADVICE IS LOCAL ADVICE
