They tell me that I’m lucky, I’m telling you that I am not.
It would be luck, if one morning, I notice that a stranger paid my debts when I would consult my bank account. (Oh Dear, I would be more than happy!)
It would be luck, if someone calls me to offer me a free world tour.
Well, it is not my reality.
They tell me that I’m lucky. My answer is as simple as this: I chose happiness. So, I travel.
- The choice to leave despite the expectations
There are probably a lot of excuses to stay trapped in our comfort zone. It is so easy to stay somewhere and simply wait for something to happen. However, I am of those who think that there is a massive difference between an excuse and a reason. If there are excuses for not moving, there are very good reasons to explore the World.
Two years ago, while working for the children protection as a social worker, I was proud of my career and my diploma. The kind of job you cannot leave because the wage, conditions and benefits are just too good. I was proud, but. But the problem is that there was a “but.” I always wanted to go on a long-term trip without having the “guts” to do so. I was too attached to my material life and to my entourage. Each year, the human ressources provides a day of recognition where there are conferences. That day, I listened to the speaker who asks questions similar to these:
“What makes you feel alive?”;
“Why do you get up in the morning?”;
“What makes you vibrate ?”.
I thought that human resources had made a very bad choice if they intended to keep their employees with this kind of motivational conference. I was wrong. My co-workers seemed to have found their voice. Secretly, I was probably the only one wondering what I was doing with my life.
For a long time, I have made my decisions based on my fears. Change is not always easy (it’s scary!), but also refreshing. Since that day, I try my best to make my decisions based on what makes me vibrate, on what makes me feel alive.
If there is no excuse to stay, there are a big bunch of good reasons to leave.
They tell me that I’m lucky, I’m telling you that I just decided to challenge my fears.
- The choice to leave despite my debts
If I have had a lot of fun with my student loans, made immature mistakes during my young frisky life and bought a car even if I didn’t have the money for it, let me tell you that I am getting better. I tend to be a bit more adult (or at least, I try!). “Why did she not pay her debts before traveling?”, you think. That would mean I should wait 10 years before I can afford the “luxury” to travel.
Life is too short to wait.
They tell me that I’m lucky, I’m telling you that I just decided to work abroad.
- The choice to be rather than to have
I chose happiness. I don’t choose to possess. Obviously, I’m human and I have my weaknesses. I prefer to simply invest in my life and in my experiences rather than stuff. When I sold most of my material life, I felt so free. The thing is… the day I’ll die, this material is not going to follow me, right?. The day I’ll die, I would rather have had time to live.
While my friends are buying houses, furnishing their apartment or buying new cars, I collect passport stamps, memories and adventures stories. I prefer to put myself in the middle of the discomfort zone.
They tell me that I’m lucky, I’m telling you that my priorities are… slightly different.
- The choice to live rather than survive
If I am in my comfort zone, I find it so easy to forget to live. I’m in survival mode, overstressed and, most of the time, uncomfortable. As I am anxious, travel is my way of living. This is my pill. An effective method to make sure I stick in the present moment without having to worry about anything.
I want to live my life as I decide. Why should I survive if I can choose to enjoy my life where the magic happens?
They tell me that I’m lucky, I’m telling you that I simply chose to live my life, to run after my dreams.
- The choice to live with remorse rather than with regrets
This quote used to be one of my favourites. Teenager, I had difficulty to understand the meaning. Today, it’s how I make my decisions. I prefer to have remorse. Yes, I have not been there for my family and my friends when they needed me during the last fifth teen months. I missed a lot of stuff. And yes, I feel guilty. But, I know one thing; I don’t feel guilty of making my dreams come true.
I don’t want to wake up a good day, saying that” I should have been there or done that…”. Excuses are going to be unforgivable when it will be too late.
I prefer to fall asleep and still be impressed by the “luck” that I had.
They tell me that I’m lucky, I’m telling you that I am not.
They tell me that I’m happy, I’m telling you that it started with a simple choice.
Read the original post on my blog.
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2 Responses to “You don’t need to be Lucky to Travel”
Felix
Maybe you should go to a poor country first and rewrite this article. Unfortunately a flight ticket or a long-distance train ticket is not affordable for so many people over the world. I consider myself lucky everytime I’m traveling
Dimi
Fair point, I guess this piece is from the point of view coming from a first world country. I agree with your point Felix, people from third world countries have said my dream is to come to Australia.