When was the last time you felt the fear and did it anyway?
Travel can be one of the scariest, nerve wracking and anxiety causing things you can do. Pre-trip nerves and jitters, doubts and what if moments filling your mind, home sickness and frustration at being miles away from your life back home can all give you the heebie jeebies. Hey, don’t put your passport back in the cupboard to collect dust as these feelings are totally normal.
When travelling, and in life in general, it’s healthy and actually important to feel the fear, and do it anyway. When I skydived over the sea in France, hiked alone with a male trek guide through the Himalayas and mountaineered up an active volcano in Chile … yeah I was scared. It’s natural when you put yourself in what could be potential danger for your flight or fight senses to kick in. Weighing up the pros and cons of your decisions then rationalising at how ruddy amazing you’re going to feel when it is over just brings out the warrior in you.
I can do this.
It is perfectly normal to feel apprehensive before you board that plane, jetting off around the world without fully knowing how you will cope when you land. The thing is though, you will cope. You will learn to find your voice, put your foot down and push yourself to the limit.
It won’t be easy. Changing your routine, leaving the comfortable existence of your family and friends to arrive in a country where you don’t speak the language, don’t understand all their customs and traditions and not know a single soul over there; is always going to be an adventure.
But that is exactly what travelling is. An adventure! Exhilarating, exciting, awe inspiring and incredible. Yes, it’s not easy, but who wants easy? You booked this trip, packed that backpack because you wanted the exact opposite of what you know back home. That comfort blanket needs to be shed. You are brave, you are confident and you’ve got this. Totally got this.
Having the mind-set that there will be times when it feels too hard, knowing that you will get frustrated when you can’t do the simplest of tasks because of language barriers and preparing yourself for the worst case scenario is the best way to be as a traveller (and a brownie/boy scout). Because, when things do go to plan, when you have epiphany moments laughing at how ridiculous you stressed over nothing, when you realise that not everyone is out to hurt you or scam you is what travel is all about. And when you return, well, you’ll be a man my son.
