Yes, you heard that right. I packed up everything I owned and moved halfway across the world. Again. For the second time in less than two years.
You might think I’m crazy. Sometimes I think so, too.
For the second time in less than two years, I packed up my entire life into just a few bags and flew halfway across the world.
It was a scary and much-contemplated decision, but I decided to say goodbye to my life in London. Last week, I moved back home to Nicaragua, where my family is currently living.
Two years ago, my mom, dad, and sister moved to Nicaragua from Canada. I lived with them for a month before embarking on my solo travels in Europe and eventually settling in London, where I lived for the past year and a half.
I had a great time living in London, where I found my community, got a job I loved, and made friends for life. But after being settled into a routine for over a year, I was craving adventure – the type of travel you can’t embark on when you have a 9-5 job and expensive bills to pay.
I won’t even get started on the cost of living in London, as we all know that’s a major problem and why many people move out of the city. However, it was one of the biggest factors in my decision to move.
Although I loved my life in London, I decided to move back to Nicaragua mostly because I wanted to solo travel in Central and South America. We’re talking months and months of traveling with a backpack and going on crazy adventures.
This has been my dream for a long time. I knew that I couldn’t save and prepare for this trip while living in London, where I couldn’t save any money.
The Emotions That Come With Moving Away
It was tough saying goodbye to my friends and the place I called home for the past year and a half, but I knew it was the right decision for me.
I’m now writing this while living in Nicaragua with my family. I miss my friends and the city, but one thing that keeps me going is the promise of adventure to come.
However, I would be lying if I said it was all rainbows and sunshine.
Sometimes, not being completely rooted in a place and moving around constantly can make you doubt yourself and mess with your head. At least, that’s how I feel every now and then.
Most of my friends and family have very different versions of a “normal” life than I do, which sometimes makes me doubt myself.
Most people I know are rooted. They have a stable job, income, and life. Many of them only travel a few times a year and are completely happy. That’s where we differ.
At times when my anxiety gets the best of me, I wonder, “WTF am I doing with my life?” I have no stable job, no stable life, and no place to call home. Did I make a mistake? Should I have stayed where I was and stuck it out, even though I wanted a change?
All of these questions and more haunt me frequently. If you also have these doubts, know that you’re not alone.
You made this decision because you weren’t completely happy with your life. You know that you were destined for more, and you were brave by making the decision to do the thing, whatever it may be.
You took the first step. Be proud of yourself. Now all you need to do is keep moving forward. One step at a time.
A Promise to Myself in the Next Three Months
I’m taking three months to work on myself, my freelance writing business, my travel blog, and Instagram while I’m here. I’m putting in the work to make money so I can travel to Canada in the summer and Central America at the end of the year.
It’s a tight timeline, but I know I can do it. In the grand scheme of things, what are three months?
I’ve heard of people embarking on something called “Monk Mode,” where they take on a challenge to improve themselves and complete a goal within a certain time frame.
In a way, this is what I’m doing. I’m giving myself three months to get things started and make money so that I can fulfill my travel goals.
It won’t be easy to get back into things after being away from the freelance writing landscape for so long, but I have faith in myself. And that’s all that matters.
Why I Prioritize Travel
If you know me, you know that I prioritize travel over everything.
I was in Italy a few weeks ago, and my friend decided to go home a few days earlier than scheduled. I figured that since I was there, I might as well take the time to explore more cities that I hadn’t been to before. Even though I was alone and running out of money, I traveled cheaply and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
When I had a full-time job in London, I took multiple trips to European cities, and most of the time, I ended up extending my stay for a few days—without being paid.
I even quit my job without having another one lined up to go to a music festival in Poland last summer.
I sacrifice money, time, and pretty much everything that isn’t vital to me for travel. Sounds chaotic, right?
So then, why do I do it?
The answer is simple. I love to travel.
I love being introduced to new cultures, places, and people. I love trying new foods, seeing beautiful landscapes, and trying things I would never have if I had stayed home.
It’s fun. You could be walking through the rainforest in Costa Rica, seeing beautiful waterfalls and wildlife, or drinking an Aperol spritz at the beach in Italy.
I especially love traveling solo. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want. You choose your own adventure.
I love meeting other solo travelers and hearing their crazy stories. And creating stories of our own that we will one day tell our future children.
Solo travel also teaches you many lessons about the world and yourself. Sure, it can sometimes be scary, but it’s so worth it.
Thinking about all this dissipates the doubt and fear I sometimes have about starting this new chapter of my life. Remembering that I prioritize travel and knowing what I need to do to make my next trip happen motivates me to work harder and double down on my goals.
Final Thoughts
If you’re also struggling with doubts and wondering if you’ve made the right decision, you’re not alone.
I’ve heard this explained in scientific terms, but I’ll put it simply: We are often met with resistance to change and the unknown. This is because our brain is hardwired for survival. It doesn’t know if the change will be a good thing, so it would rather stick with what it knows.
That’s why we often feel scared or stuck when we know it’s time for a change. But push through – we’ve got this.
Check out these two related posts:
- The Greatest Lessons I’ve Learned from Solo Travel
- How Solo Travel Changed My Life
- What It’s REALLY Like to Live in London
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