Thoughts on the Future

I know I'm kind of being a broken record, but it feels like things are falling into place right now and I'm so happy and grateful. All of these things coming up in my life - working, taking classes, job shadowing - are making me feel energized and excited, and I finally feel like I have more direction in my life. I can so easily compare this time of my life with my last years of college, and how much has changed for the better. I'm excited for the future, rather than apathetic, and I feel more connected with people, rather than isolated. I'm definitely feeling like my best self, and I know a lot has to do with circumstances, so I'm just trying to give thanks as often as I can. Life is filled with seasons, and right now, I feel like I'm in a rich, productive and happy one... like fruits blossoming on a tree, ripe and basking in the early summer sun.

Since I feel like I can envision my future more clearly, something I've been trying to figure out is how I want everything to fit, especially with traveling. Traveling is such an important part of my life... maybe because it's how I spent my childhoods, maybe it's because it's how I met Cody... but I think a large part is because it's the one time in my life where I define myself as being brave, rather than anxious and afraid. Traveling pushes me outside of my comfort zone, fills me with curiosity and enthusiasm for life, and helps me learn and grow. 

I'm afraid that as I settle down into a career path, life will get in the way and traveling will fade into the background... something that I'll do "someday" but never really do. I hear so many people say that traveling is so hard, near impossible, to do when you're older, and honestly, it makes sense... getting time off from work, finances, etc.

There are a few things I'm trying to remember, though. For one, I'm trying to remember that I can always prioritize traveling when I plan out my finances, and I can make certain sacrifices if it's what I really want to do. I also want to remember that there are so many ways to travel cheaply, as long as you do your research. I want to remember the concept of "slow traveling," how even if we don't have as much time to travel, we can move slowly and really soak things in, even if we can only stay at one place. And finally, I'm trying to remember that traveling is so much more of an attitude than anything... the attitude of having eyes open, being curious, and practicing being brave. Even if it's just a weekend camping trip, if I have the heart of traveling, then it can still help satisfy that craving.