A Day’s Journey

Around the world in 365 days – April 1, 2022

I asked myself this question every day for years. I am a creature of habit. Same morning routine, exercise routine, work routine, evening routine — just daily routines, going through the motions. I wondered…What would it feel like to live my dream? What would it feel like to break out of my monotony, my comfort zone, my routines?

I must preface this with the acknowledgment that I am extremely privileged. My race, ethnicity, education, safe childhood and home environments- pretty much every social determinant has allowed me advantages in life. I was lucky to be able to explore jobs and careers and settle on my own choice without the pressure to provide for a family. All of these things are the recipe for a comfortable life. But what would life be with just comfort? It would be as described above- monotonous. I believe that privilege comes with responsibility. Responsibility to escape the comfort zone to share, learn, and grow the Self, the Community, and Collective Conscious.

Travel has always been an insatiable experience for me. I am very lucky to have already seen 35 countries in my 26 years of life. I can’t even begin to describe why I always left travels craving more. Perhaps it was the recognition that breaking away from the comfort zone accelerated my growth as a human.

I love hearing “it must be easy or it must be nice.” Well- yes it is really easy to say yes to be selfish in living my dream. But no- it takes a financial, social, and physical toll on the course of my life. It’s a decision that makes sense in my life, but not in everybody’s life. I shattered my identity to take this trip. I was always the hardworking girl who did what she was “supposed to,” worked a combo 3 jobs in each college, grad school, and in my professional life. I went through the social norm ladder of going from high school to college and excelled even further than most peers to achieve a doctorate degree. Immediately began my professional career. Because that is what intelligent good girls do? Naturally my next steps on the social norm ladder climb would be to find a husband, plan a wedding, buy a house, have children. That is what is expected. But what would it feel like to live MY DREAM? To apply myself as the hardworking and compassionate woman to the world at large through my love of travel?

To answer my life question, “what would it feel like?” I turn to my last journal in the entry in the United States on April 1, 2022 before embarking on a world adventure. “My stomach feels anxious, my mind is racing, but my heart feels at ease. I’m where I’m meant to be.”

Ask yourself: “What would it feel like to…” And remember to savor that feeling when your time comes.