Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Please Have Your Boarding Passes Ready

Please bear with me, I am new at this. I don’t even really know what a widget is.


I’ve always loved to write. My memory is terrible and I often write as I travel just to remember. I have thought about blogging my adventures, but never managed to get to the doing stage. I am the ultimate procrastinator. Now, sitting in my parents basement, with 2 months before my next trip and no job, it seems like the perfect time to get started.

What do I hope to accomplish with this? At the very least, I want to remember my life, my successes and my failures through my own eyes. I want others to have a deeper understanding of my life out on the road. I want to practice writing and one day call myself a writer. At the very best, maybe this will jump start me into a career as a travel writer. Who doesn’t want to get paid for living their life’s passion??
Today, I am considered by society to be “a failure at life”. I am 20 something…and closer to 30 something than 20 something. I do not have a career. I do not have a car. I do not have a place I call home. I am single and not looking. I live on a whim. I flee at the thought of responsibility. Everything I own fits into my backpack and a couple of boxes. I am worth nothing and owe a lot.
But, my life is rich in adventure, global experience and passion.
My happiness doesn’t come from a man who loves me, a beautiful house or the prospect of raising a family. My happiness comes from a plane ticket, my backpack and the freedom to discover the world.
And although now I can’t imagine it any other way, it wasn’t always like that.


Once upon a time, my life was on the path to “success” in every traditional sense. I had a long term boyfriend. I graduated high school with honours. I went to University. I graduated with a degree. I started another degree. I knew what was next. Get a job. Then buy a house. Then get married. Then have babies. Then …..wait to die.

To me, this didn’t sound like a life to strive for. Was I missing a step? There must be more. I couldn’t imagine the monotony of that kind of daily life. Although I couldn’t really articulate it at the time, I felt like life was a box. And with each step toward an ordinary life, that box was shrinking with me inside. But I didn’t know what was outside of that box or even how to get out.
It was a struggle, but I did manage to pull myself out of that box before it swallowed me up. The first few steps were big ones. I broke up with my boyfriend. I quit University before I had finished my second degree. That summer, I took a job outside of my province, and left everything and everyone I knew behind. It was a start, but I still needed more.
That fall, I boarded a fateful plane to Australia, with hopes that a year abroad would help me “find myself” and figure out what I wanted to do with my life.

Little did I know, how big the world outside that box was or how my passion would be unearthed on the other side of the world. In Australia, I achieved everything I set out to do. My life has become a journey I could never have fathomed before. And I have never been happier.

Join me, as I TRAVEL MY LIFE AWAY.
Up next…what happened on that fateful journey in Australia.

CG

10 comments:

  1. Excellent start!!! Bravo Crissy for sharing your journey with others. I know you will have many stories to tell. You are living the dream so many others wish they had but don't believe they can make the break to do it. Bon Voyage on your continued adventures!!!

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  2. Great start to what Im sure will be a wonderful blog. As you know I envy you and your 'not so box like life'. I live vicariously through you.

    Your photos on facebook tell many stories, I am looking forward to hearing them now =)

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  3. Great job and sounds great! If you need any help online let me know.

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  4. WOW I'm so exited about what happen in australia....
    I'm glad your writhing it. I really can relate to your story.
    I NEED TO GET GOING !!!!

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  5. Makes me so excited about doing this myself..!! Can't wait to start! You're putting my feelings into words :)

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  6. Looks like we are on a similar path except I did the school, marriage and baby thing first and suddenly one day decided I could either continue on this path or take a U turn and go off on an adventure of a lifetime! At 51, I sold my home, my car, my furniture and most of my belongings and set out on the road to backpack around the world. So far I've done 65 cities in 13 countries and have LOTS more to see. I'm off to Asia next! Looking forward to following your travels!
    Tammy

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  7. Tammy you are an inspiration!! I can't even imagine how hard it must have been to leave your old life behind. Congrats on doing it!!! Cheers to living your dreams!!

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  8. this is awesome, how are you able to travel so much? :o

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  9. just buy a ticket and go!!! i figure everything else out after!!

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  10. Crissy you're A MAAAAZIIINGGG!!! haha I want to turn back time and go back to the integral days haha.
    Can't wait for your late 2011 trip to NZ!!! ;) haha doooo it!!!!
    Love Ella xxx

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