The 29th of January marked one year since I took the plunge and quit my job to travel slow. On my anniversary, I ended up in Jardin, Colombia, resting in a hammock at a homestay overlooking the world’s longest mountain range. With the pink sky dissolving over the Andes at sunrise, I opened my journal to jot down my adventures of yesterday. ‘Goodbye girls and a dodgy burger‘ read the title. After a 2-week stint in Cali and Medellin with friends from London, ended with a short bout of food poisoning.
“Typical!” I whispered and chuckled at another chapter (of many) to add to my story.
Yet, in the midst of tummy rumbles, I was greeted by a deep sense of joy in my stomach at just how much my story had changed in the last year. Recounting the adventures of yesteryear– I’d had my first taste of volunteering long-term, hiked Machu Picchu, camped for 6 weeks in Scotland, spent Christmas in Ecuador with my best friend, and, was visited by multiple loved ones in different corners of the world. In this silent serenity at dawn, I smiled to myself as tears dribbled down my cheeks, dazed by how lucky I am to still be here.
Accordingly, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief knowing unlike last year, I would not face the dreaded Monday return to the office tomorrow.
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“How long will you be travelling for?”
Asks my host Natalia, who has just served a breakfast of ‘huevos revueltos’ using fresh eggs from her chickens here in Jardin. I’ve gotten used to the shocked looks on people’s faces when I respond with:
“Indefinitely, I have no desire to return to my life in London”. Or simply with “I have no idea”…
The thing is, I still feel the weight of anxiety that comes with that statement. Triggered by old ways of thinking, I could never have imagined my life to look the way it does now, cue Biggie, “it was all a dream!”
Yet, after 6 years of working, saving, wishing, wanting and 2 years of Coronavirus, I was beyond ready for this adventure. So I leapt spontaneously into nothingness after a period of serious depression, I had no idea what I would discover. Despite this, I left with these primary intentions, best summarised by an Instagram post that I made at the time:
What I’ve Learned Since I Quit My Job to Travel:
1. Taking the leap is the hardest part.
Just do it. So many of us have things we want to do that may require taking a leap into the unknown. But more often than not, fear gets in the way of our desires and we put off any major lifestyle change. What if I fail, what if it doesn’t work out? Don’t worry I get it.
But, what if… What if it all worked out?
Even after years of travelling long-term, I still get nervous each time I book a one-way flight to a new destination. The last year especially has taught me it may work out or it may not, either way, you will learn something that will lead you in the right direction.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”
Helen Keller
2. There’s no point worrying about tomorrow- It doesn’t exist.
A year ago, I realised that everything I thought I wanted- was meaningless if it meant being miserable today.
Now I am not saying don’t have goals, I’m saying money comes and goes, but time doesn’t.
Sh*t, what if your quest for happiness ‘one day’ doesn’t work out?
Battling between our future wants and our present desires can feel like a lifelong struggle. From deciding what to study at college and university, to dating, to career decisions and plans. We are taught to be focused on the end goal, rather than enjoying the process. The last year has taught me that modern-day society’s obsession with ‘one day’ has destroyed our appreciation for the simple things today.
I know, reality check Sophia, “we all gotta pay bills!”
*Coughs*- An even bigger reality check is that life is short and could end at any moment.
By not taking risks and staying in your comfort zone, you are living in the fantasy land of tomorrow. Can we really bank on the illusion that if we work hard enough today, one day we’ll feel such ‘happiness’?
I quit my job to travel because I noticed too many days turning into weeks, weeks into months and months into years. Hoping that ‘one day’ we’ll be able to do the things we really want. There really is no time like the present!
3. We have a lot of STUFF to let go of- on minimalist living.
When I randomly stumbled across the groundbreaking ‘Minimalists-Less is Now’ documentary on Netflix in late 2021, I had no idea that the concept of minimalism would so drastically impact my life. The show sparked a question:
“Rather than working harder to make more money (and spend it on stuff)… How would life look if I really spent less?”
The question sparked more questions. Such as: What if I didn’t aim to buy a house? Or if I didn’t need a new outfit for every event? What if I skipped the event altogether? What if I prioritised my time and money for the things I really want?
Over time I’ve realised that a life of forever chasing and only wanting more material goods- means we will never feel like we are enough, or that we have enough. As such, the cycle continues. Essentially, the documentary made me start thinking about what I really wanted in life. And questioning if I really needed all the stuff I’d accumulated. The last year has taught me how to let go of a lot (physically and mentally). Particularly those things I’ve been told to want and allowed me to create space for more things that make life simply joyful.
“I’ve found that the less stuff I own, the less my stuff owns me.”
Nathan W. Morris.
Similar to travel, what if I didn’t aim to go everywhere and see everything? In the last year, I’ve taken a less-is-more approach– by travelling slower, staying in places for longer, volunteering to save on accommodation and avoiding eating out too much or buying unnecessary things. Besides my backpack being much lighter and my travel budget lasting longer. Contrarily I have found the experience to be much richer by spending less.
Since I quit my job to travel, I’ve mostly avoided fast flights, 5* hotels and private taxis from A to B. The minimalist travel approach prioritises balance to stay grateful. Meaning when those luxuries do come along- you really appreciate them. To emphasise, this lifestyle often means choosing community over convenience in my travels. Such as riding public transport, carpooling, staying with locals and volunteering. But it’s these times when my stories and adventures come to life.
Money definitely makes life more convenient, but it doesn’t make you rich.
4. We need to stop limiting ourselves
Boxed into the corporate structure, it became too easy to believe I was good for nothing as I’d let my value be defined solely by my career. Every time my team missed a deadline or a client complained about going over budget, I felt like I’d failed. With my deteriorating self-esteem, I wondered how I could possibly be of value to anyone.
Also read: I’ve Been Locked Down in India for 9 Months of This Pandemic
But what I didn’t know at the time, is that our value is not determined by ‘what we do’, though this seems to be the single most defining factor about ourselves in Western society. Beyond job titles, we all have our own intrinsic value to uncover within ourselves. When we give ourselves time to explore that, we can tap into the full versions of ourselves.
Since I quit my job to travel- volunteering abroad has taught me that we can all be of value to someone.
For example, you may be that helping hand to a struggling single mother who can not afford a childminder. Or the company that a lonely older person needs Or as I ended up on my first volunteering trip to Portugal– someone could cut vegetables and lift objects for someone with severe arthritis.
Use my Worldpackers link here for $10 off an annual membership!
Who knows?
I’ve learnt, the system has taught us to believe that we are less than we are. But, by volunteering abroad, you will discover more about your value than you could have ever imagined.
5. The infinite power of kindness
At some point, after I quit my job to travel, I was sitting and having a coffee in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. It was one of those slow days with nothing on my agenda when I noticed a group drinking wine and laughing next to me. Suddenly, one of the group members got up and wandered off after receiving a call.
His energy switched instantly from joyful to distressed. However, his male friends looked over unimpressed and shook their heads. By all the snot and tears, I could see he was clearly upset, and as I was doing nothing with my day, I went over with a tissue to check on him. Why not?
The man was incredibly grateful, and we shared a hug as he wiped away his tears.
When I came back to sit down, his group of friends looked over and thanked me for this simple act of kindness. We got talking, which led them to follow my blog, they also all invited me to stay with them if I ever needed a room in their countries.
Kindness can look like giving a tissue, a hug, or a donation to someone. Either way, we can always give something to someone. The act of slow travelling has not only given me more time for myself but also more time for others. Through volunteering and daily acts of service.
So, for anyone who believes in the law of attraction (how can you not?)– what we give out will come back to us. If you seek love, then first you must become love. Or if you seek friendship, work on becoming your own best friend. If you seek kindness, then give kindness out.
What has travel taught you about life?
Overall last year has taught me a lot. But most importantly, kindness is infinite and giving to others radiates us and continues the cycle of kindness. When it comes your way, pay it forward.
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This blog was written by Sophia and published on the Beauty in a Backpack blog.
Sophia Howard
Sophia here- welcome to my blog! I love slow travelling, 90s RnB, festivals and sunsets. I quit my job and left the rat race behind to travel the world solo and at my own pace. A proud foodie and mindful travel advocate, in pursuit of travelling for social good and inspiring others to live their dreams. I would love you to join me on this journey to travel as a lifestyle…
Loved the post thank you !