Somebody Pinch Me!

After a night full of packing & cleaning I decided to reward myself with some R&R on the couch. I'm not much of a TV person so of course within 5 minutes I find myself browsing the internet, looking at pictures of all the places I hope to see on my trip. As I'm sitting here, I realized that 3 weeks from right now will be my last night in the States. As my departure date gets closer, the more unreal it all seems. Sometimes I literally think to myself, "Am I really going to Europe ALONE with nothing to do except wander, explore, meet new people & eat delicious food?" Four months ago I had about $300 in my savings account & had just started a new job that, for lack of better terms, just wasn't right for me. So how did I get to this point

I can tell you it wasn't easy & the entire process forced me to prioritize in a way that was very new to me. It started with a realization - a realization that no matter where I'm at or what I'm doing, I'm not going to be happy or content until I have started to pursue my desire to travel & see the world. This realization quickly turned into a goal. Well actually, many goals. How much money do I need to save for this trip? How am I going to reach that financial goal? What do I want to do while I'm there? What do I want to see? After saving up enough money & booking my flight I knew it was time to buckle down & start saving. One thing I have realized through all of this is that the way to reach a big goal is essentially just a combination of small goals: 

- "This week I'm not going to eat out"
- "Instead of going out on Saturday night, I'm going to stay in & watch a movie"
- "Instead of buying iced coffee at Dunkin Donuts, I'm going to brew my own"
- "Do I really need this new scarf?" 

You will always find something to spend your money on if you don't have a goal that you’re working towards. You will also always find something else to fill your time if you’re not putting effort into following & planning your dreams. The point that I want to make is that anything is possible if you truly put your mind & energy into it. Yes, this sounds so cliché, especially in today’s society. But honestly, less than 6 months ago I would have never imagined that I would be going backpacking in Europe for 3 months on my own. My favorite musician, Dave Matthews, quotes in one of his songs, “To change the world, start with one step, however small, the first step is hardest of all.” So, whether you’re saving up for your dream car, planning for a week in the Bahamas, thinking about moving across the country, wanting to join to Peace Corp. or like me, pursuing your desire to travel, just remember it’s not out of reach if you really want it.