My First Travel Anniversary: One Year of Travel

A very important date has just ticked by for me; my first long term travel anniversary. Last month, on 20 January 2019, I realised that it had been exactly one year since my epic journey of adventure, self discovery, and solo travel began.

It was quite a surreal feeling to think about everything that I have accomplished and been through in just twelve months time. It was also such a strange experience to look back on what my plans initially were for the last twelve months, and to see how drastically they changed. My year grew into something so much grander than I had expected and I achieved far more than I could have ever hoped to in such a short amount of time. I even managed to smash each and every one of my goals I set for myself for 2018.

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One Year of Travel

The last twelve months have been overflowing with adventure, revelations and a life chaining amount of self-development and personal growth. I explored so many new countries – including some that weren’t on the agenda, had endless new experiences, and met the most incredible and inspiring people along the way. I also learned how to live a more purposeful and fulfilling life, and finally achieved location independence as a digital nomad.

In addition to all of these amazing aspects of the last twelve months, I also experienced the hardest and darkest times of my life. But even that was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed me to truly heal and grow as a person.

It was the combination of all of these experiences that made this year so invigorating and memorable. In the end, the best part was that I got to share every moment of this crazy adventure with all of you. Thank you for coming along on the ride so far!

Where Have I Been?

Total Countries Visited

The Last 12 Months – 7 Countries

In the last 12 months I travelled to, hiked in, and explored, seven different countries. Some of them were life changing and exhilarating, while others were challenging and eye-opening. I also spent some time in the last year exploring regions of my own country that I have never been to before and quickly realised why Australia is on so many travellers bucket lists’. 

My year, chronologically, looked a little like this:

• January: New Zealand
• February: Argentina and Patagonia
• March: Chile and Patagonia
• April: Chile
• May: Bolivia
• June: Peru
• July: Queensland, Australia (road trip)
• August – October: Home with trips to Mackay and the Gold Coast
• November: Tasmania, Australia
• December – January: Thailand

In My Lifetime – 15 Countries

As of this travel anniversary, I have explored a total of 15 different countries. As I am writing this I am in my 16th country, awaiting my flight to my 17th. A lot can happen in just one month!

While I still have so many destinations and regions on my list, I know that I may never get to them all. And that’s ok. Each country, hiking destination and region of the world has something unique to offer and I would rather explore fewer places in depth, then try to visit every where in the world in just one lifetime. It will be interesting to see what this number is at the end of my second travel anniversary.

New Countries Visited – 5

From 20 January 2018 to 29 January 2019 I visited five new countries. I loved each of them in different ways and for different reasons.

1. Argentina
2. Chile
3. Bolivia
4. Peru
5. Thailand

My solo journey in South America saw me travelling through a new continent, to four new countries. My current trip to South East Asia also constitutes new turf for me. It is my first time in this region of the world. I have actually just landed in Malaysia from Cambodia, so my list is growing for the next travel anniversary already.

Countries Revisited – 2

During the last 12 months I also revisited two of my favourite countries, which includes my home turf:

1. New Zealand
2. Australia

New Zealand was my first stop on my year of travels. It is a place I have been to many, many times. It is probably somewhere I will continue to go for the rest of my life – and am in fact heading back to in March of this travel year. I just adore the place.

After returning home from South America I vowed to see more of my own country. I followed through on this promise completing two epic road trips with my mum and finally exploring Tasmania which has been on my mum’s bucket list for a very long time.

Experiences in Each Country

So now is the time when I share my highlights, favourite moments, and most incredible people from each of the countries I visited during my first year of long term travel.

1. New Zealand

New Zealand is a country I find myself gravitating back to, time and time again. My trip at the beginning of 2018 was my fourth time to the country, and my third time visiting with family. Even though it is so close to Australia, I would still fly across the globe to get there. If you have ever seen a photo of the sprawling, snow-capped mountains, or the vast and sparkling lakes, then you know why I am drawn there.

At the beginning of 2018, my mum and I hired a car, took our hiking tents and set off in search of adventure and relaxation. We were both pleasantly surprised to discover new landscapes, and destinations in New Zealand that neither of us had experienced in our previous trips. We were also blown away by the kindness of the people we came across during our road trip and had so much fun living the road trip life. I am certain that no matter your age, background, or travel style, you would fall in love with New Zealand. We definitely have.

2. Argentina

The First of My Latin American Adventures

Argentina is a country that is home to enormous waterfalls, dramatic mountain peaks, colourful city scapes and hippy mountain towns. It also holds the title as the first stop on my epic Latin American adventure.

The Initial Panic

From the second I stepped foot inside my Buenos Aires hostel, I knew I was going to love the solo traveller life. But there was a moment while I was on my flight from Auckland to Buenos Aires when I honestly didn’t think I would even leave the airport. I had been so caught up in the excitement of selling all of my belongings, planning my trekking adventures in Patagonia, and researching what to pack for such an extended trip. I had never actually stopped and given myself the chance to process the reality and magnitude of my solo adventure that lay ahead.

Then, all of a sudden, while I was sitting on my flight, surrounded by Spanish speaking locals and headed to a new continent, I realised how completely alone and terrified I was. It wasn’t excitement and eagerness that I was filled with. In that moment, twelve months ago, I felt an overwhelming amount of dread. I was distraught that I had made the mistake of my life.

Not Just Surviving, But Thriving

Despite every ounce of my mind and body telling me to turn back, I pushed on and dove into South America and solo travel head first. Immediately after checking into my hostel I was greeted by three extremely friendly and welcoming solo travellers and all of the doubt, fear and anxiety of being a solo traveller in South America melted away. The first week of my trip was such a whirlwind of fun, laughter, exploration and 7.00am nights out dancing, that I actually forgot to eat for almost four days. By week two of my journey it was so clear that I would never be able to travel any other way again. I had conquered my fears of solo travel, and not just survived, but thrived.

3. Patagonia

Border Zig-Zagging

After exploring the north of Argentina, I made my way south to the world renowned hiking region of Patagonia. I criss-crossed from the Argentinian side to the Chilean side a total of three times during my six week adventure in the mountains.

While my first border crossing into Chile was a bit chaotic (a sniffer dog choosing my backpack out of a line up in a place where no one speaks English and my Spanish was not yet developed to include “I don’t have drugs”), I walked away jail free. Needles to say, by the time I left Patagonia I was a pro at collecting border stamps and at ensuring my bag didn’t smell like fruit, or anything else the dogs were concerned about…

A Life Changing Destination

Patagonia was life changing for me. It was everything I had ever hoped it would be, and more. The freedom of exploring such a remote and rugged part of the world on an open ended ticket was invigorating. Having everything I needed to survive on my back made it even more empowering. I have never felt so stress free and happy in my life.

I found myself amazed each and every day by the sheer size of the glaciers, the harshness of the mountain peaks, and the piercing colours of the lakes. The natural beauty in this part of the world will continue to linger in my mind and heart for the rest of my days. I just gave myself goosebumps thinking about it.

Why I Love Patagonia

Patagonia allowed me to become overwhelmed by emotion on solo hikes. It also allowed me to build a deep connection with so many other hikers who I met along the way. Being in the outdoors, without distraction really allows you to get to know someone, and yourself on a much deeper level. You learn so much more about a person than you would if you were at home or backpacking in a city.

The people I met along the way were also so genuine, adventurous and inspirational. They reminded me why I love being human and how grateful I am to have the opportunity to travel and explore this world. There was one person in particular who pushed me to become a better version of myself and who I know will remain a friend for life.

Any outdoor, wilderness or adrenalin obsessed person needs to add Patagonia to their bucket list. If you are heading to South America, you really should try to maximise your time in this captivating, grandiose and glorious part of the world.

4. Chile

It wasn’t just Patagonia that caused me to fall so deeply in love with Chile. The entire country captured my heart and I struggled to leave while I was there. So much so that I ended up spending two whole months in Chile before continuing on with my South American journey. When I look back now there are two distinct reasons why I fell so deeply in love with this place.

1. The People

The people were one of the main reasons. The Chilean people were the friendliest, most helpful, and hospitable people I have ever encountered. They were always eager to strike up a conversation, help me out in any way that they could, and to invite me into their homes. They were also just such good fun with a wicked sense of humour and an infectious zest for life.

I connected with all of my Chilean friends on such a deep level and I left feeling like I had known them my entire life. I can’t wait for the future adventures I will have with them and I am so glad we have all stayed in contact. Hasta luego, amigos!

2. Endless Variety

Chile has to be the most diverse and unique country that I have ever been to. It offered such a huge variety of terrain, landscapes and experiences.

Patagonia, in the far south of the country is covered in jagged mountains, glaciers, fjords and stunning glacial lakes. Then in the northern region of Chile, close to the Bolivian border is the driest desert in the world; the Atacama Desert.

The Atacama Desert was such a bizarrely different place that I no longer felt like I was on Earth anymore, let alone still in Chile. Don’t let the name fool you; it wasn’t just a desert. It was a diverse and surreal place full of varying landscapes.

There were endless salt lagoons, enormous and colourful volcanoes, active geothermal parks, rock formations that were millions of years old, and salt flats that expanded for as far as the eye could see. If that doesn’t convince you to visit Chile, then I don’t know what will.

Then to mix things up, in the centre of the country you will find bustling cities, exotic wine regions, and  cultural and artistic cities by the sea. Every region of Chile is in stark contrast to one another and you could probably explore it for the rest of your life and still never truly experience it all.

5. Bolivia

Mixed Feelings and a Rollercoaster of Experiences

Bolivia was an unusual country for me. It was both amazing and challenging at the same time. It has left me with mixed feelings, but with a certainty that I will return one day to explore more.

The landscapes and adventure activities in Bolivia were captivating and adrenalin pumping. At the same time, it was also a pretty eye opening destination for me. Having experienced the ramifications of the protests in Bolivia first hand, my experience in this country was very different to my time in any other South American destination.

I was also a victim of the infamous Bolivian sickness on my second week there. After four months of no issues, being bed ridden for five days whilst desperately trying to rehydrate in a hostel was a shock to the system.

The travel burnout also hit me pretty hard whilst in Bolivia. I ended up struggling with some pretty tough mental health issues at that time, which I wrote about in this post. Don’t let my experiences stop you from visiting though. These were just my unique, and unfortunate, circumstances. I had so many amazing experiences in Bolivia aside from these and there is still plenty more places and activities I need to return to explore one day.

Natural Landscapes and Adrenalin Filled Fun

The salt flats tour from San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni is a perfect example of why you should absolutely travel to Bolivia. It was everything I expected, and more. The whole region is something everyone needs to experience at some point in their life. It is hard to put into words just how surreal and bizarre this area of the world is. Being in the middle of nowhere surrounded by natural landscapes in every single direction was such a foreign, and humbling experience. You never feel quite as tiny as you do when you are overwhelmed by nature.

Mountain biking down Death Road was also a highlight of my time in Bolivia. It got the blood pumping and definitely needs to be added to any adrenalin junkies bucket list. Studying Spanish in Sucre and exploring the sprawling city of La Paz were also aspects of my time in Bolivia that I really loved and think you would too. So definitely put aside a decent chunk of time to do this country justice.

6. Peru

Reasons to Visit

Peru is another country that offers a huge range of landscapes, terrain and experiences. Depending on your taste, there is almost something for everyone. While Machu Picchu seems to be the main draw card for people visiting Peru, there are endless options elsewhere in this country to see jaw-dropping views and be challenged by the intense high altitudes.

Huaraz for example, is a hiking region home to ample mountain peaks and high altitude lakes that glisten with intense turquoise. So many of my Patagonia friends found themselves in Huaraz at one point or another and it will definitely be a top priority for me on my next trip to South America.

My Personal Experience

Unfortunately, by the time I got to Peru I was well and truly into the travel burnout phase. There is a lot more of Peru that I didn’t get the chance to explore properly and want to return to discover when I have fresh and eager eyes.

The main highlight in Peru for me on my trip was actually not a place; it was a person. I met a girl in Bolivia, who is a true citizen of the world. But that’s a story she can tell you herself!

We clicked instantly and decided to continue on together and travel through Bolivia and Peru side by side. I was in a pretty dark place mentally by then, so to have someone positive and lively travelling with me for such a long time really made it easier to cope with the mental battle I had going on inside my head. I will be forever grateful for the time we had together and for her patience and understanding.

We had so many moments of laughter, lots of deep and intimate chats on the many long bus trips we took, and ate an enormous amount of over-indulgent food after eating “like backpackers” for several months before meeting each other. Some bloody good memories!

7. Queensland

After deciding to throw in the towel for a while and head home, I found myself back in time for a wedding, the birth of two babies, and for many adventures with my family and friends.

While Queensland is my home state in Australia, there is still a lot I haven’t explored properly. On a random Thursday night, my mum and I came across a camper van relocation deal for $1 a day. They needed someone to drive a van back up to Cairns from Brisbane and without hesitation we spontaneously booked it. We have driven that length of road hundreds of times in our lives, but had never actually taken the time to do it as tourists and make stops along the way. We were pleasantly surprised!

It suddenly became clear why so many backpackers do the road trip from Sydney to Cairns every year. Our beaches really are pretty spectacular here in Australia, with the rainforests sprawling and diverse. We even managed to do a few tourist experiences along the way including the Capricorn Caves in Rockhampton and Paronella Park in Cairns. It is so important to explore your home turf as well as venturing overseas!

8. Tasmania

Then after a pretty dark period in my life, I emerged from the bleakness a brand new person in the gorgeous Australian state of Tasmania.

If anyone has been following along on my journey, then you know how much I fell in love with Tasmania and how beneficial it was for my health and well-being. My mum and I did an 18 day camping road trip in this extremely photogenic part of the world. I was also lucky enough to hike the six day Overland Track at the end of our trip, which was the icing on the cake. Tasmania was so much more than I had expected. My mum loved it so much she is even considering moving there now!

Tasmania is such a natural and unspoilt place of beauty that is overflowing with generous and friendly people. If any Australians haven’t made the trip down, then I highly recommend adding it to your list. Even if you can only spare a week or 10 days, you could easily see a lot during this time given how close everything is. It barely even feels like Australia anymore and we often found ourselves thinking we were in New Zealand or some far off country.

9. Thailand

The Last of 2018 and First of 2019

Thailand was my last destination of 2018 and also my first destination of 2019. Little did I know that this trip would develop into something really special for me. Each region of Thailand, the people I met along the way, and the experiences I had have been very different and equally life-changing. I have grown so much already in just six weeks in South East Asia.

Something Different

I was initially concerned that I wouldn’t love the hot, beachy climates of South East Asia as much as I love the more mountainous regions of the world. After four glorious weeks in Thailand and three further weeks in neighbouring countries, I can definitely see the appeal of South East Asia now.

The first week of my time in Thailand was as an add on to one of my close friend’s Full Moon Party crew. I wasn’t sure what to expect, having only met one of the nine other attendees before arriving. But it was actually such a perfect balance of awesome people, epic dancing and laughter!

Life Long Friendship

New Years Eve also provided me with another unexpected blessing. I met the most inspiring, motivated and incredible woman during this time who has become an instant life long friend. I have spent the last two weeks visiting her in Siem Reap, Cambodia where she and her friends welcomed me with open arms into the Cambodian expat life! The rest of the people I met during my time in Cambodia were also next level, but that is for next years travel anniversary…

Finding Balance in the North

The north of Thailand felt like an entirely different country altogether. While I struggled briefly in the first week in the city, I eventually settled in quite nicely. It was a very spiritual, cultural and beautiful place with endless options for taking off into the sunset on a motorbike and exploring. It was also where I finally started to find my balance between travel and working remotely as a digital nomad.

Where’s Next?

As most of you know, I’m not actually in Australia for my first travel anniversary and am still actively exploring other countries in South East Asia. I scooted across the border from Thailand to Cambodia a few weeks ago and am now in my first week of exploring Malaysia. I can’t wait to see what my annual recap looks like at the end of this year.

My Year in Numbers

Now I’m going to take a look back at the last 12 months in numbers. I was intrigued to know how many trails I hiked, buses I took, and how many hostel beds I stayed in. Once I started crunching the numbers it was crazy how they all added up!

Transit

Flights Taken

• 17 flights for a total of 64 hours

Buses Taken

• 24 long distance bus rides for a total of more than 145 hours! (It’s actually not as bad as it sounds)
• 7 short distance bus trips
• 12 tour mini buses

Trains and Metro Systems

• 0 long distance trains – apparently I don’t like trains, or am never in countries with them?
• 2 city metro subway systems

Hitch hiking

• 6 hitch hiking lifts – caught over the space of two weeks in Patagonia

Ferry’s and Boats

• 8 ferry rides of varying sizes and distances – including one while trying to outrun a cyclone
• 4 boat rides – including a Thai long boat and a Peruvian reed island boat

On Foot

• 2 very long walks – one across a border, and one in the dark at 4.00am when trying to escape protests in Sucre, Bolivia
• Daily step counts of 25,000 plus per day, almost every day!

Activities

Road Trips

• 2 camping road trips – my mum and I are now addicted!
• 1 epic overland solo journey – almost all of my travel in South America was overland aside from my flights to and from Australia and one internal flight I had to take when buses were shut down by protests
• 2 solo motorbike journeys for a total of 330km and 3 days
• 1 camper van road trip – up the Queensland coast for $4 on a relocation

Trails Hiked

• 380km+ hiked on multi-day and single day hikes
• 18 hikes in total
• 6 multi-day hikes of a total of 27 days in the mountains in my hiking tent
• 12 single day hikes – ranging from 2 hours up to 10 hours each

Adventure Activities

• 1 white water rafting – class IV and V rapids
• 1 down-hill mountain biking – Death Road!
• 2 massive hikes of 6 and 10 days each – The O Circuit and The Overland Track
• 1 underground caving and spelunking – The Black Abyss in the Waitomo Caves in New Zealand
• 1 blackwater rafting – Waitomo Caves in New Zealand

Travel

Travel Days – 205 Days Total

• 205 days travel out of 365 days
• 15 days in New Zealand
• 123 days in South America
• 7 days driving up the Queensland coast and in Cairns
• 10 days in Mackay
• 5 days on the Gold Coast
• 21 days in Tasmania
• 24 days in South East Asia (up until my Travel Anniversary – currently at 48 days in Asia)

Home vs Abroad

• 162 days travelling abroad
• 43 days travelling in Australia
• 160 days at home working, studying and focusing on my self-development

Solo Travel

• 161 days as a solo female traveller
• 44 days travel with family and / or pre-existing friends

Languages Studied

• Spanish
• (Chilean) Spanish (it’s quite different to Spanish, trust me!)

Accommodation

• 100+ nights stay in hostel dorms
• 30+ nights stay in my hiking tent
• 20+ nights sleeping on someone else’s couch, sharing their bed with them, or borrowing someones spare bedroom
• 1 night solo airport hotel stay
• 3 nights private room stay in a hostel
• 2 nights in a camper van
• 5 nights of hotel stays with family

Weather and Climate

• -10 degrees (celsius) overnight temperatures in a tent in Patagonia
• Dry and cold temperatures in the high altitudes of Bolivia and Peru
• Blistering heat and humidity in Northern Argentina, Australia and Southern Thailand
• 105km/hr winds and torrential rain in Patagonia, as well as knee deep snow and beautiful sunny days (often in the same day)
• Perfectly blissful weather in Northern Thailand that was not too hot and not too cold; it was just right; and
• Four seasons in one day in Tasmania, Australia

Reflection on My First Travel Anniversary

Greatest Discoveries

Don’t Let Fear Stop You

Before embarking on my epic solo adventure, I was petrified. I had endless concerns about the idea of solo travel. I was convinced that I would struggle to meet anyone and that I wouldn’t make any friends on the road. I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to navigate the language barriers or that I wouldn’t be able to understand the foreign transit systems on my own. Basically anything you could stress about, I had stressed about.

In the end, I realised that the same aspects of solo travel that terrified me were also the aspects that were going to make it the greatest adventure of my life. And I was exactly right! Had I let fear stop me then I never would have realised just how incredible solo travel truly is and how easy it was to overcome all of the obstacles I had built in my mind.

I realised that fear and common sense are two different things and that you can still be safe and sensible without restricting yourself from the best experiences life has to offer. You should never let fear get in the way of chasing your dreams.

Solo Travel Realisations

I learnt three very important things about solo travel in the last 12 months;

1. It was more difficult to find any time to myself than it was to make friends. Making friends is not something you should be worried about!
2. Being responsible for your own adventures, travel arrangements, and more complicated aspects of travel can be a lot of pressure sometimes, but it can also be empowering and exhilarating. You will be surprised by just how capable you can be.
3. You have the freedom to experience the destination, culture and moment exactly how you want to. When it comes down to it, you don’t have to make compromises for anyone, but you can also make as many compromises as you deem fit.

Learning More About Myself

I discovered a lot about myself this past year as a solo, long term, adventure traveller. I have become more comfortable in my own skin and with who I am as a person. My social anxieties and insecurities are shrinking by the day. I have a clearer idea in my mind of who I am and I am finally proud of the person I am becoming. I am also more adventurous and less anxiously cautious than I have ever been in my life.

The last twelve months have also taught me so much about resilience, perseverance and independence. I have become a stronger and more confident person as a result of the type of travel I have done and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Greatest Moments

Disconnecting in Patagonia

Patagonia tested me in a lot of ways, on both a mental and physical level. It taught me a lot of lessons about tenacity and also the outdoors in general. It also provided me with endless moments of awe and happiness. Perhaps most importantly, Patagonia allowed me to disconnect from technology and social media and to live in the moment with the people I was with and the landscapes I was exploring.

I wasn’t constantly checking my social media updates or frequently messaging people online. Instead, I was taking it all in with my own two eyes, breathing in the fresh air, and marvelling at the whole experience of my adventures in this vast region. I am so grateful for how Patagonia changed me and for the people it allowed me to meet.

Making Friends on the Road

One of the most amazing benefits of solo, long term and adventure travel are the friends you make along the way. Some of them are only in your life for very brief moments, while others become a daily part of your life and travels.

While I met an endless number of people in the last twelve months, there were a handful of phenomenal people who have left a very lasting impact on my heart and soul. These people entered my life at just the right time and change me and my experiences on a very deep level.

Some of them helped me through very dark times, others inspired and motivated me to be a better version of myself, and then some of them filled me with so much joy and laugher that I truly remembered what it felt to be happy again. They know who they are and how much they mean to me. <3

Work-Life Balance and Location Independence

This year has been life changing for me in working out how to balance my life. I have found a way to travel, work, live life, channel my creativity, and continue to learn and develop new skills all at the same time.

With intentionally reduced work hours, and becoming location independent, I am earning a fraction of what I used to when I was working full time in the rat race. But it doesn’t matter, because I am so much happier and healthier both physically and mentally. I also spend a lot less money because I am living with purpose and making active choices. You need a lot less than you realise to be happy. And what you do need, you can easily save if you prioritise what is the most important to you in life.

Now my office takes the shape of a cafe, or a hostel courtyard. Sometime’s it’s a beach or a library, and other times it’s the back deck of my mum’s house. And in amongst all of those forever changing work spaces, I’m prioritising travel, hiking, and my fitness and health.

Here’s a sneak peak into a typical office day for me now:

Sometimes it looks a little more traditional, like the shots below.  Especially when you base yourself in Digital Nomad cities:

I also have the time and energy now to pursue my other passions for creative writing, photography and hiking.

While my blog doesn’t make me a lot of money right now, I am finally starting to see the potential for it to become more than just a hobby for me. Working away at Nomadic Matt’s travel blogging course has definitely given me the guidance I needed to become more focused and efficient with my time as a blogger. It was worth every cent and I cannot recommend it enough. If you don’t want to purchase a course just yet, then have a look at my step by step guide on how to start your own blog to see if it’s for you.

For the first time in my life I have managed to keep all of the different aspects of my mind and soul engrossed and captivated. I can’t wait to see what my update in this realm will be for my next travel anniversary.

Most Difficult Moments 

Holidaying VS Long Term Solo Travel

While long term solo travel can be incredible, it isn’t all glitter and happiness. There are also times of struggle; mentally, emotionally and physically. It can be just as stressful and draining as everyday life. When you are travelling for several months at a time, and not just for a week or two, it is a little bit different to a usual holiday. Travel becomes your life, and not just a break from life.

The usual stresses of day to day life are still part your daily activities, they just don’t usually make it onto instagram. The main difference between travel and home life, is that instead of monotony being the sharp edge that grinds away at you, it is the unsettling nature of constantly moving around and navigating new places and languages that can get you down.

Travelling in remote or developing locations as a solo traveller also brings it’s own abundance of challenges and obstacles to overcome. You are solely responsible for overcoming every possible issue that may arise. Some of these experiences are what make this type of travel so exciting, while other aspects can make the whole process tiring and exhausting. It was all part of the adventure though, and it taught me so much about myself.

Battling Mental Health Issues

My life long struggle with mental health culminated in a turning point in the last 12 months. In September of last year I found myself unable to travel after self-harming and breaking my own hand. It was this catalyst that forced me to take the time to process, grieve and overcome past trauma from my childhood and recent years.

I embarked on an epic journey of self development and healing. I prioritised my happiness, made the effort to work on my health and well-being, and was truly honest with myself for the first time in my life.

If you are feeling a little lost in life, or as though you are alone in your struggles, then I recommend having a read of this post I worte about my personal growth journey. It is long, but it is brutally honest and may give you some relatable insight.

Missing Important Moments Back Home

One of the hardest moments of my adventure last year was missing my brother’s 21st birthday.

I knew when I departed on my epic solo journey that I would be missing it. But I also knew that there was never going to be an ideal time to go on such a long journey, and that I would always be missing out on something one way or another. So I cemented the idea in my mind that I just had to bite the bullet and go.

My brother understood why I had to go on my grand adventure when I did. He was fully supportive of my intentions and motivations and was so happy for me to be living my best life. But it still sucked that I was on the other side of the world and not there with him celebrating when the big day rolled around.

If I had my time again, I would fly home to be there. It seemed like a lot of money at the time, and as though I would be giving up on my travels. But I have realised now that you can always make more money and have more travel adventures. But you can’t relive those moments with important people once they have passed. And sometimes, the people in your life are more important than anything else.

Looking Back

Looking back on this travel anniversary, 2018 was a monumental year for me. It was the year I decided to prioritise my purpose and happiness in life. I made active decisions to pursue travel and my passion for the outdoors on a more permanent and full time basis. I began working remotely in July of last year and have finally achieved location independence as a digital nomad.

Most importantly, I followed through on my promise to myself to live my best life possible.

I am hoping that my second travel anniversary will be just as exciting, chaotic and adventurous as this one was. And I hope you will all continue to join me on my reflections, guides, stories and adventures.  Here’s to 2019, and living a happy and fulfilling life!

--Girl Seeking Purpose