Lessons Learned From A Year On The Road
ONE YEAR
Let’s sum it up
It was a year ago this month that I packed up my desk, my belongings and left a job and life I had known for many years.
And I can’t seem to tell if that feels like 2 months OR 5 years ago.
I still remember that life, and certainly the people in it, but it just seems so far removed from where I mentally am now.
I kept waiting for it to hit me that I was out here doing my thang, with no guidelines, jobless, alone, free, I don’t know.
It never did.
I just woke up everyday and saw where it took me.
In a world where it is now so easy to get wrapped up in a million trivial, unimportant ideas or things.. I made it my mission to live my life one day at a time.
For the past year, through moments of happiness, sadness, fear, joy, and loneliness I focused on one step, one foot in front of the other. At all costs.
Focusing on myself and what holds importance in my life,
no one elses
...with no distractions of my former daily grind.
...14 countries later and here is what I learned...
The world is huge, you are never going to see it all. A metaphor to life in a way.. you will never have it all. Be grateful for the experiences you do have.
It’s never too late to be brand new
Writing is an outlet I never knew I enjoyed. Something I never would have had the time to discover without taking this time for myself. For that I am very thankful.
Patience. Oh, patience. A virtue I have always struggled with. Never has my patience been tested so much as it has the past year. I have learned to let go. Becoming frustrated or angry over certain things you cannot change is a waste of energy and time. Breathe and let it GO.
"Look at you worrying so much about things you can't change, you'll spend your whole life singing the blues if you keep thinking that way"
A simple life is a better life. You do not have to travel or live on an island to have a simple life. A simple life is focusing on the important things and leaving the things that bring you down or distract you behind.
Happiness is a choice
Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy.
You are at the mercy of the emotions you choose to have.
I've been judgemental in the past. It is ugly. I have encountered so many different walks of life this past year. Ones I never would have met in my former life. You never know what someone is going through, where they have been or what they could teach you. Your opinion or choices may be different from anothers, but nothing makes one choice better than another. I think some people like to think they are open-minded, but when push comes to shove..
are you really?
I wasn't
To not judge other people’s relationships, there are things you could never understand, things that simply can’t be explained
I’ve always known I give sound advice... but I have learned I sometimes struggle to take it myself.
The biggest one:
Trust your gut and have the courage to follow that instinct.
Sometimes, no matter how hard I try. I cannot truly appreciate experiences in the moment. It is not until I have had time to reflect on those experiences that I can truly appreciate how lucky or wonderful that experience was.
Meditation is f*cking cool. Try it
Central and South America are not 'too dangerous' to travel. I have traveled all over these regions solo, and been fine. Because I have done my research, taken precautions and had awareness. Just like I did in my former home of Chicago. I knew the places not to go, I never walked alone, and I was alert. Don't write off the rest of the Americas.
Music and dance are international languages. I have had countless moments made with people who did not speak the same language but found common ground through music and dance.
We live in a day and age where everyone is constantly connected. It is a wonderful tool and one I am grateful for. But its left us addicted to these subscriptions to everyone elses lives. I've taken more time to put the phone down. 10, 20, 50 years ago communication was far less, yet I do not believe people cared about each other any less. I may not call or text you every day, week or month. However that doesn't mean you are not in my thoughts everyday or I love you any less. It is actually strengthening that love.
People can change.
We all have things in our pasts that are not true reflections of who we are now. Do not judge someone on where they have been. Who you are is not where you have been, it is where you are going.
I have met so many wonderful people. A few that will be friends forever. However being away has solidified that a select few of my friends back home are rare and special. Friendships that are truly cherished by me. Serving as a reminder of how important and rare true friendships really are.
Music gets me through anything. Long bus rides, tears, highs, lows, illness. Anything
I have learned there is more good in the world than I could have ever imagined. However a harsh reality, one that I have tried to ignore.. is that there is far far more evil and greed in the world than I ever thought possible.
Nothing is more beautiful than a sky coated with stars
Being young is a wonderful thing. I accept the fact that I will probably never understand the power and beauty of my youth until it has faded.
How easy it is to take the easy road, to stick to what’s comfortable. Without hard work and perseverance you will never reap great rewards. Being mediocre for me is not an option.
Jealousy. Envy.
They get you no where fast.
People see right through those that are disingenuous or insecure.
How powerful it is to realize you have touched the lives of others. It has overwhelmed me with joy all of the responses or inquires I have gotten since I have left. I have learned inspiring or helping others is where my true passion lies.
My relationship with material things or trends has changed for the better. I can live with so much less than I have since realized. However the "OMG I NEED THAT" does still creep in from time to time when I see something pretty on one of my friends or on instagram. I guess it is all about balance. It is okay to have nice things but it isn't who you are, I will never again let those things swallow me. Those pretty new things eventually become old. Leaving you to yet again desire something new. Rinse & repeat.
No children are cuter than Latin American children.
Nature is absolutely incredible, fascinating, mind blowing etc etc etc.
The whole world is corrupt, but the whole world is full of wonderful curious people as well.
There are many times where I have felt freer in countries I have visited than in the US, the 'freest country' in the world. My eyes have been opened to the power and greed that runs so many things in the world. I am now more aware and conscious of the lies and false truths we are advertised and led to believe.
Bravery.
I have many days where I convince myself that I am not as brave as others have told me I am. That I have somehow managed to portray this false illusion of bravery to everyone. I speak of self-confidence but yet sometimes don't have it myself. I have learned to allow myself to give more credit where credit is due.
I am brave and I try not to forget that.
Sun screen will always be my best friend.
Home is not a place but a state of mind.
I miss Chipotle and flaming hot Cheetos. like a lot.
Love requires patience, acceptance understanding and compromise.
Taylor swift is still QUEEN.
The older I get the less I know.
Finding peanut butter in southern South America is impossible
Life happens when you least expect it
I am so incredibly lucky to come from the upbringing and family that I do. I was born into incredible privilege. A privilege that at times makes it near impossible to imagine things from the other side.
I am so incredibly lucky
I am meant to enjoy the life I have been given with joyous and exuberant wonder
I am beautiful
And finally..
Don’t blame me love made me crazy, if it doesn’t you ain’t doing it right
I made my way from Mexico to Argentina in the span of 9 months. I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. However, I think that was kind of the point. It was harder than I thought it would be, but I discovered SO much more than I ever imagined. I traveled to countries I had never thought twice about and learned so much about their respective culture and history. I have spent the last 3 months back in Roatan, Honduras. Living in an apartment basically located in the jungle. Waking up every morning to the crow of a rooster or calls of a noisy lot of birds. It has been wonderful to unpack my bags for a bit, because man was 9 months of travel exhausting! I have been working as a bartender at Off the Hook, a restaurant overlooking the beach, to make some money for whatever the next part of my adventure holds. And I love it.
In essence.. I still don’t know where I am going, but i’ll let you know when I get there
I wrote recaps on what I had learned after one month on the road as well as six months on the road, click the links to take a look back if you would like!
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