Yes, You Can!
When I meet people and they hear my story of transition, from a stable, predictable career woman to an untethered nomadic female traveler, the most common response is “I envy what you’re doing. You're so brave. I don’t think I can do that.” I’m here to tell you. YES, YOU CAN!
See. I was one of those people a year ago. In fact, my most common excuse was based on fear.
1. Fear of the unknown.
2. Fear of being in an unsafe world.
3. Fear of not having stability.
4. Fear that we would be too far away from Ethan and our family.
5. Fear that we would run out of money.
Fear, fear, fear…. that seems to be the most common obstacle that stands in the way of living our best life. I’m currently reading The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday, a great book for anyone who needs to reframe obstacles as opportunities and not setbacks.
Holiday states “Every obstacle is unique to each of us. But the responses they elicit are the same: FEAR, Frustration, and Confusion, Helplessness, Depression, and Anger.
When I set out on this nomadic travel journey, I still carried those fears, but over time they have faded into the background as a quiet hum, instead of a loud pounding drum. When I made the decision not to embrace the often irrational and unfounded stories of fears I carried, I have found a well of confidence in waiting for me to help navigate this big beautiful world.
It never once occurred to me all those months proceeding my departure that I would successfully walk the Camino De Santiago in Spain, explore 12th-century castles in Ireland and Scotland, walk-on Abby Road like the Beatles, watch authentic Flamenco dancing in Spain, camel trek in the Sahara Desert, swim in the Blue Lagoon in Cyprus, and bike across the Salt Lake in Larnaca.
To think that I almost missed these opportunities because I lived in this space of I can’t instead of I will. Weeks before leaving, I remember telling my son, I wasn’t going. I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t leave him, I couldn’t walk away from my career, give up my security of money and home to venture into the unknown. And he said. MOM, YES, YOU CAN! This is your time and you will regret it if you allow your fears to assume the driver seat. Wow! Our children are often our best teachers.
When I hear people tell me they can’t do what I am doing, I smile and tell them, oh, yes you can. It’s not easy. It’s scary, at first. It even feels a little crazy. But when you make the decision to jump, step into your fears, rewrite your story, you will be amazed at how brave and courageous you really are!
