A path unknown

A story by me

By Charlene

“Go travel, it will be fun” they say....

Travelling has always been my dream. From short breaks away to long haul holidays, the feeling I get when I get off the plane at my destination I just cannot explain. As the smile beams from one side of my face to the other, I get a sense of freedom and excitement that takes me away from normal life.

2017 has been one of those years that I will personally never forget. It has had its lows (sometimes very low), its highs, an excessive amount of tears of both sadness and joy, laughter, love, heartbreak, achievement and disappointment but through everything there are three things that have kept me together - Family, Friends and Travel.

This year has proven to me that as long as you have the people around you who you love and provide support and as long as you do the things you love that set your soul alight, you can deal with any challenge that life throws at you. These things combined remind you of how strong you can be and provide you with the support and encouragement you need to feel happy.

I am also blessed at work. I have a great role in a great international law firm, which has its challenges but the role is great, the team are amazing and its an environment in which I thrive. Yet something is missing... I go to work every day wondering if there is more to life and why I get caught up in all the stress and how routine is such a negative experience for me.

With everything that has happened this year and all these thoughts constantly running through my mind, I thought... "What if. What if I decide to take a break and go experience the world".

It was 1 August, 2017. I found myself standing outside of STA Travel, I could feel myself thinking: Am I insane? What am I doing? Is it a good idea to be giving up my security of a good job, my family and my friends?... Yet I was also thinking: No this will be amazing and you will be fine. You have got this. You have done this before, it's just a job and home, it will always be here.

With so many emotions and contradicting thoughts going through my head, I took a big gulp, walked inside and sat down at the desk. I had no clue as to what I was doing but I knew I was there for a reason and this was my time. I am turning 30 next year and for the last five years I have wanted to return to Australia and see more of the world. So after an hour of contemplating what to do... I booked it. It was actually happening! Wow. On 7 January 2018 I will be travelling Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and onto Australia - one way!

Had I really just booked a one way flight? Yes.

Was I excited? I wasn't sure.

I walked outside and rang my mum. "Mum, I finally booked it". Now reality was sinking in. I thought I was going to feel like I had just made the best decision in my life but with five months to go, little did I know that time was going to be roller coaster, full of ups and downs.

Having saved money all year, I handed my notice in at work and my flat all in the same day, which was such a strange feeling. At that point there is no going back. Giving up financial security and a job I love to travel the unknown is a risk but one I seriously believed in taking. To take risks for the search of true happiness, over a life of ifs and regret is worth every penny.

People say to me... "Wow you're brave", "I wish I had done that", "How can you go on your own", "Aren't you scared or worried", "You can't just walk away from your life here", "What will you do for money"... And they have a point.

I am really nervous BUT I have made the right decision. This is a chance for me to change my life, go see the world, experience different cultures, meet new people, feel true happiness, test myself to see if I can do it alone and prove to people that if you want something in life you can make it happen.

Of course I have my doubts but whenever I feel worried, I remind myself of that feeling I get when I get off the plane and know that as soon as I am feeding Elephants in Thailand or paddle boarding on the clear waters of the Philippines, it will be worth it.

It's now November 2017 and I have less than two months to go. Time is moving quickly. I have no idea what 2018 will bring me but what I do know is that no matter where I am in the world, I will always have Family, Friends and Travel there supporting me.