As a girl I knew I wanted to explore the world, to get out of my town and see what else was out there. But it took me a long time to figure out how to do that.
I grew up in a small town in Connecticut. So did my mom, and her mom, and her mom… You get the idea. I wouldn’t say my family had a sense of adventure during my childhood. Not in the way I do now. And probably not in the way you’re imagining either. It wasn’t weekend camping trips, or visiting the National Parks (no, I wouldn’t see my first National Park until I was 26!).
It looked more like annual two-week trips to a small cottage on the Connecticut shoreline, 45 minutes from home. Occasionally a spring break roadtrip to Dollywood or Myrtle Beach.
My first time out of the country? 18.
First time seeing a huge waterfall? 23.
First time hiking above 3,000 ft? 24.
First visit to a US National Park? 26.
You get the idea.
I slowly started going further and further away from home. First college (Connecticut), then study abroad (Jordan), then my first job (Boston), then graduate school (London), then a period of settling in (Austin), with so many places in between.
Once I had a taste for what it was like to explore our big, wide world, I couldn’t stop. I still can’t wrap my head around how much there is so see and do on this planet of ours.
I have found like-minded friends and coworkers that I can band together with to explore new places. I follow my interests to lead me to new places I maybe hadn’t even heard of last year. I prioritize time and money to do it all, safely and enjoyably.
There is so much life to live and I absolutely plan to live it. I hope you do too!