Behind every traveller is a story…

So I’ve always wanted to travel, and when I caught myself saying one day “it’s my only regret that I never went to see the world” at the ripe old age of 25 I knew things had to change…

I had for the most part of my childhood and teen years been a bit of a rebel. Not settling for other people’s opinions, I had always had to see or try things for myself even if it would get be into a spot of trouble.

So how had I ended up here? How at 25 had I given up on my dream?

Well after a few unruly years I had needed to grow up and make something of my life. I met a wonderful guy and together we became outstanding citizens. We owned our own home and worked hard in our careers achieving promotions we were able to afford nice things and go nice places. And so life continued. Naturally we got married and bought more stuff planning for the future. I was happy and no longer damaged. But I began to feel trapped. I couldn’t understand why or see a way out so I continued to dilute these thoughts by buying more pretty things.

Then one day, sat at traffic lights in my new Audi TT (a car I could never have imagined to own 10 years prior or even think it possible to have money to pay for driving lessons), a higher spec version of my car parked up alongside. “Uhhhhh” I thought, ” keep going at work and in a couple years I could get me one of those”. That’s when it hit me. There’s nothing wrong in striving for more but had the success of my life become dictated by the car I drive and the stupidly expensive designer heels I pressed the pedals with?

I couldn’t shake the thoughts anymore. Me and my husband grew further apart. So when our marriage ended I owed it to him to actually do something with my life so as not to be a hypercrit. I realised too how distant I had become from my family values and owed it to them too to figure out what mattered again. Moreoverly, I owed it to myself. I’d worked hard to get myself out of the hole I had dug in my teen years so deserved to reep the rewards. I deserved to recognise my reflection and feel proud at how far I’d come.

Fast forward to today… I’ve sold everything. I rediscovered myself (after the obligatory several drunken holes I woke up in). I learned to trust, love and believe in myself again. I became responsible for my own happiness and so was no longer looking for anything to make it happen for me. I was content to just be. I ended up all over the world just from having one or two chance conversations. One of which led me to G.

How can I describe G? I could be soppy and ramble on but I have learnt to trust myself and the choices I make and he is a fab choice bless him! When I met G everything just clicked into place without any force. He’s an adventurer, a drummer, energetic, passionate, enthusiastic, unselfish and makes me laugh and smile (a hell of a lot). That’s why I’m bringing him along with me!

The future..? So here we both are on the start of a great adventure, a trip, a new life, a new beginning. I don’t know what the future holds. I just hope this journey gives me more choices in life to be happy as, for the first time in a long time, I have not planned anything for when we get back home. Or even where home may end up!