How to: Do the things. Take the risks. And kick some 2020...
I learned a lot this year.
Since the day I was born, I’ve always been inquisitive and bothered everyone I knew with a few too many questions. Oh, like in fourth grade when my teacher, Mr. Bere, gave me three poker chips to represent the three questions I was allowed to ask every day (because, let’s be honest, I was incredibly annoying and asked questions about absolutely everything.) I think this hunger to know more and explore the “whys” is what sparked my travels and, ultimately, my life abroad.
But as I looked back on the past 365 days, in order to formulate my game plan for the upcoming year, I realized I learned so many things in 2019 that I never even thought to ask questions about.
Things like:
1. In order to establish an address in Portugal, you need to recruit two locals to vouch that, yes, you do indeed live there.
2. Graciously accepting a 24-hour travel blogging trip, which includes 10 hours of driving, is probably not the best idea when you own a Smart car…
3. You may be the mother effing queen of communication, but long distance relationships will still getcha, and ain’t nobody going to come crawl into your bed and snuggle you to make it feel better
4. As a person with a conscience, traveling to places like Bali, Indonesia can be a bit depressing, seeing as in Indonesia, “taking out the trash” means dumping your rubbish in whatever empty lot you can find, and ultimately watching it wash into the ocean.
5. Excel is a program that you cannot escape from, however fast you might try and run… Excel will get you (and your little dog too!).
The above are just a snippet of challenging things that happened over the past 365 days while I moved to Portugal, changed careers, and traveled for both work and play. Trying to apply for a visa in Portugal was *almost* impossible. Being catapulted back into the throes of a long distance relationship, after only a few weeks together, was a pill I basically refused to swallow. (I was a monster.) Discovering that Bali had a few problems that weren’t featured on Instagram was eye opening, to say the least. And trying to crash course my way through ten years of business experience I never had was, uh… challenging at best?
But let me rephrase a few things there.
Because as I reflect on my 2019, I only have thoughts of incredible growth, change, and awareness.
The five things above are just a few of the enlightening, eye-opening experiences that me, an incredibly privileged (and hardworking) girl, had the absolute privilege of going through this year. And yes, I repeated the word “privilege” to make my point.
So, again
what happened this year?
1. My visa for Portugal was approved! And with that incredibly sparse email from the embassy, came a thin shred of validation I’d been searching for on my journey to feel accepted in Europe. And dear lord, how often did I forget that I’m a person from one of the most developed nations in the world, with the absolute privilege of deciding how and when I want to leave my country? A few too many times.
2. I started writing for the Travelettes this year, and learned how to work hand-in-hand with boutique hotel owners, in order to help bring their vision to life through words. And I stayed in some rulllllll comfy beds.
3. Long distance relationships suck, and I’m not here to sugar coat that. But what I will do is give my partner and I credit for tirelessly supporting each other to be the best that we can be. Even if that means shipping him off to the Maldives, and my not even being there to say good bye. (Remember that 24-hour travel blogging trip? Timing…) Being on a good team is a priceless feeling.
4. I traveled to a different country almost every month this year. And every single country filled a piece of the never-ending puzzle we hope to complete when we travel. New insight, new awareness, and a new understanding for how things work in places that I’ve only seen on the news. I am forever grateful for how much of the world I’ve seen (and can’t wait to start tasting my way through coffee shops in the other parts!).
5. I did the thing! I put in the work! And though I was pretty unsure of basically everything, I said “YES!” to a full-time job under the direction of two incredible women, and started to uncover my own entrepreneurial spirit.
I could go on and on about the simultaneously trying and enlightening moments of 2019. But let’s be honest, that’d be pretty selfish and this post is already a little too much about me. What I’m trying to get at here, is I’ve found so much power in perspective. The strength that comes with reflecting on the times you failed. (Me. The 30 days prior to Kris leaving for the Maldives. I couldn’t cope. I was mean.) The awareness that comes from taking 30 seconds to remove yourself from a stressful situation. (I get to travel to incredible places. The photos will happen. The words will flow. I need to relax.) And the gratitude that comes from doing the damn thing, whatever it is. Going for the job that a person with your CV could only dream of. Moving out of a place where you’re not happy, regardless of whether or not it “makes sense.” And pushing yourself to truly see what you’re capable of.
Man.
THAT is what my 2019 was all about. And as we get into the groove of 2020, I’m resolving to consciously keep this positive perspective.* Because, as I’ve told my friend Joana, what good things come out of me feeling sorry for myself, besides ten wasted minutes where I could’ve been out having a cup of coffee with you?
It’s 2020.
Go do the things.
Take the risks.
And keep your perspective.
(It’s ok if you forget sometimes. There’s a certain redhead who does that too… It just matters that you try.)
*(I’m also resolving to become a better budgeter, active saver, and listener, if you really want to know.)
What perspective are you taking into 2020?
Have resolutions that will help you get there?
Tell me in the comments below!