Are you going to give up? My boss requested, intuitive as ever.
I hesitated for a second. It wasn’t a lot the group I felt indebted to, as this man sitting in entrance of me who wasn’t simply my supervisor however a mentor, pal and idol.
Sure, I someway mumbled. I’m sorry.
What are you going to do then?
Transfer again to India, attempt to work with a non-profit, perhaps journey.
We had huge plans for you right here.
I do know… In my head: I hope the universe does too.
Quitting my job to journey: The dream vs actuality
Precisely 11 years later, right here I’m. Typing these phrases on a breezy afternoon, from a minimalistic home in a lush Goan neighborhood. Gazing on the surrounding greenery from my work desk, I spot a furry mongoose scurrying away into the wilderness. After a morning of untamed swimming in an deserted quarry, I’m tempted to tuck in for a day siesta.
As peacock cries echo within the far distance, I ponder if these had been the large plans I had dreamt about once I give up my company job in Singapore all these years in the past.
When Fb jogged my memory of this 11 yr quit-o-versary, it concurrently confirmed me a glimpse of the life I had left behind. As I scrolled by my feed, I noticed footage of college mates who’ve risen the ranks of their company careers, bought or rented fancy condos, acquired the coveted Singapore citizenship, and popped a child or two!
11 years later, would I swap my life with the one I left behind?
Additionally learn: The Story of How I Give up My Job to Journey
Life is a good journey or nothing
The earlier afternoon, whereas on a protracted bicycle trip alongside a sleepy Goan village, we got here to a very difficult uphill.
As I huffed and overvalued on low gear, I concurrently tried to absorb the altering panorama round me – rolling grasslands, historical mangroves, and paddies flooded by the relentless rain. Lastly rising on the prime of the hill, I felt each exhilarated and exhausted, and psyched to proceed the trip.
That bicycle trip kind of sums up the previous decade.
Since I give up my job as a social media strategist on the Singapore Tourism Board, life has been fairly an journey. I’ve been on a monetary rollercoaster, whereas concurrently savoring epic experiences all over the world. It’s been a largely exhilarating and typically exhausting journey. Whereas I’m psyched to proceed the trip, I really feel like I’m at a crossroads and this time, I’m eyeing a distinct path.
Additionally learn: 10 Life Classes from 2 Years of Travelling
I worry falling, however what if I fly?
I at all times thought it was the worry of failure that will drive me to make my life decisions work. I dreaded pleasing those ready to say, I advised you so.
However in actuality, it was the style of freedom that pushed me to persevere.
I first tasted it whereas volunteer travelling with Spiti Ecosphere. Right here was a company primarily based within the breathtaking Trans-Himalayan area, rooted in environmental and social impression, whereas financially sustaining their work.
It was every thing I wished to do too. Pursue work that gave me a way of objective, allowed me to journey far and large, and meet my bills. I dreamt about changing into my very own boss, so I may spend Mondays mountain climbing up mountains and fortunately burn the midnight oil on Fridays.
Turned out, on this quest for freedom, I wanted to change into a troublesome boss! I needed to show to myself that I had the self-discipline to make it – as a freelance author, blogger, social media guide, Instagrammer, speaker, creator, and most just lately, sustainable tourism guide. I learnt to hustle, settle for rejection, compromise, compete, collaborate and combat again.
Every time I attempted one thing new and feared I used to be falling, I discovered refuge in poetess Erin Hansons’s phrases:
“There may be freedom ready for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And also you ask “What if I fall?”
Oh however my darling,
What for those who fly?”
Additionally learn: How I Managed to Pay of 26000$ of Pupil Mortgage: Candid Ideas for Freelancers and Journey Bloggers
Feeling “not wealthy sufficient”
At first, I used to be naïve sufficient to work totally free for giant firms, in change for the promise of ‘publicity.’ I learnt the laborious method that publicity would by no means pay my payments or assist me construct the form of future I wished.
So although I dropped out of the company rat race, I tailored my learnings from my previous life. Regularly, as my revenue grew, so did my bills and ambitions. I employed my first worker, then the second, and shortly, I started dreaming of increase a content material empire. That’s once I occurred to listen to a chat by Nomadic Matt – the envy of all journey bloggers – who runs such an empire. In a candid revelation, he confessed that he’s change into the very factor he walked away from! With tens of workers and targets each month, his empire features very very similar to a company.
That jolted me again to my drafting board. Am I too changing into what I walked away from? I started asking myself.
Within the years that adopted, I attempted to make simply sufficient cash to journey comfortably, whereas additionally with the ability to help native companies, work on significant initiatives, and pay extra for sustainable experiences and merchandise.
I’ve lengthy misplaced the aspiration to be wealthy, however for the primary time in a very long time, the pandemic has made me really feel ‘not wealthy sufficient.’ If I had the form of cash a lot of my friends do, I might’ve preferred to purchase land, plant a local forest, develop my very own meals, and construct an upcycled home powered by renewables!
However who is aware of, perhaps if I did have that form of cash, I’d be a very completely different me with completely completely different desires.
Additionally learn: How I’m Funding My Adventures Across the World By means of Journey Running a blog
Reimagining the following decade
Over time, I discovered some kind of objective within the transient excessive of the sensation of freedom and the enjoyment of pursuing work I liked, whereas sustaining myself financially.
However when the pandemic crushed each, fulfilment started to elude me.
After many months of introspection, I’m slowly starting to reimagine what this decade may appear to be for me.
I foresee delegating much more to a small staff of good individuals who can proceed the work I started 11 years in the past (no content material empire although, thanks).
I’ve begun to spend money on increasing my data and abilities, so I can work with tourism companies and locations to realize much-needed sustainability, animal welfare and local weather motion targets.
Whereas the interior pursuit continues at its personal tempo, I hope to chase fulfilment by pursuing impactful work of a distinct form.
Additionally learn: Why Lengthy Time period Journey is Much less Like Instagram and Extra Like Actual Life
Is it price taking a yr off work to journey, or altogether quitting your job to journey?
I usually obtain Instagram DMs and emails from people who’ve learn my e book or observe my weblog. Ought to they give up their job to journey the world? They need to know.
I’ve combined emotions.
On the one hand, I really feel like I owe every thing – from my journey in the direction of minimalism to my option to go vegan – to the street. If there’s a greater trainer, we haven’t but crossed paths.
However on the opposite, journey as we speak is so completely different from 11, or 5, and even 3 years in the past. Revenge journey, overtourism and local weather change are realities we should face. And as my pal over at BreatheDreamGo just lately identified, within the age of Instagram, journey feels extra like a efficiency than a deeply private act.
In the end, the query we should ask as a substitute is, can we bend the Instagram pattern, eke out a dwelling travelling in a method that really fulfills us, and go away a constructive impression on the locations and folks we meet alongside the way in which?
What’s your present standing of freedom, monetary sustenance and fulfilment like?
Additionally learn:
Find out how to Give up Your Job and Journey the World?
How I Handle Visas on My Indian Passport As I Journey Across the Globe
Find out how to Earn Cash Whereas Travelling
Welcome to my weblog, The Capturing Star. I’ve been referred to as a storyteller, author, photographer, digital nomad, instagrammer, social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism guide and environmentalist. However in my coronary heart, I’m only a woman who believes within the transformative energy of journey.