It’s not easy; there is no doubt about that. But, I never liked it easy. And the truth is that there is nothing easy in this world. So one morning, I wake up and realize that I’m wasting my life away on a job that I didn’t love and a day-to-day existence that stressed me out and made me sick, literally.
On that same day, I handed my twelve days’ notice to my boss at work. I spent the next two weeks doing the same thing I did for the past seven years but, this time, with renewed energy that my boss even offered me a raise so I won’t leave. However, I knew that I had to. This life-changing decision was what kept me going.
You might not believe me but this is a true story. My father gave me an old globe when I graduated from college and, for the longest time, it sat on my desk as a dust-catcher. This time, it will have a purpose: it will tell me where I’ll go first. So I spun it and, after a few seconds, I stopped it from spinning with my index finger. My finger pointed to Chile.
So I gave myself a week to settle everything that needed to be settled at home and planned my one-week trip to this beautiful South American nation.
I was able to save quite a lot from my seven-year tenure in my old job (and about five years in my first). But because I didn’t have a job to go back to anymore, I knew I can’t be spending like the usual tourist so I made sure that I booked the cheapest flights and reserved rooms in low-cost motels.
There’s a feeling that you’ve thought of everything already when you’re on your way to a new place for the first time. I’ve got everything packed, the hotel concierge is waiting for me, I’ll be doing this or that first thing tomorrow per my tour itinerary…
But nothing, absolutely nothing, prepared me for that feeling of lightness, that happiness and amazing sense of freedom that greeted me when I got off the plane in Santiago.
I have been to twenty-seven different nations for the past three years. And that feeling of complete fulfillment has always greeted me every single time. My decision to stop the tedious life I led and travel the world is not without pain and heartache but it was the best decision I ever made.
While a lot of people spend their money on material things, I’d rather invest in travel. From every corner of the globe, there’s always a precious gem waiting to be explored.
In my mind and in my heart, I see traveling as a source of pleasure. It invigorates my soul and enlivens my spirit. Being able to see places made me realize that the best things in life are truly free. Memories of a getaway will truly last a lifetime.