It’s 2:31am and I’m wide awake staring at the full moon outside of Lucy’s window. I’m not sure if I woke up because the inspiration hit me, or the inspiration hit me because I’m wide awake. Or maybe I’m awake because I ate dark chocolate before bed. But it’s streaming in so quickly and feels so obvious. I mean, people have been asking for a blog of my travels so they can follow along. And although I want to share, it has always felt a bit awkward to just share selfies and stories of my solo adventures. However, I do love connecting with others to hear their stories (and seem to have a talent for making best friends with strangers). And here I am on the road with my camper van (Lucy) for the next three months while I travel New Zealand. So why not write a blog including the life lessons and people I meet along the journey?
It’s my second night on the road, and I’ve already met some interesting people. There was the trio from Minneapolis who I connected with at the first lookout point en route from Queenstown to Wanaka. A husband, wife and her sister who had rented a camper van and were traveling from place to place, just enjoying the adventure and quality time they got to spend together. Then I bumped into a couple from Australia on the bike path yesterday who traveled to Christchurch because they had aero points to use and preferred flying the three hours to explore the south island instead of twelve to some far away destination. But perhaps it was the girl from Switzerland who finally got the inspiration flowing. After driving to Makaroa and setting up camp (easily done with a camper van, besides choosing the parking angle property so you can have the best view), I made some warm soup and connected with her over where she is going next. She has been traveling by road bike the past five weeks, starting all the way up north and is continuing to the south before flying home. Her sense of adventure (and fitness level) have me awe struck, for those who have travelled New Zealand’s roads know that even navigating them in a vehicle can be challenging. We swapped stories of where we had been, taking notes of places we both loved and wanted to share, which can be extremely helpful when making travel decisions on your own. I cannot wait to go see the pancake rocks, and hope she makes it to the cute town of Glenorchy for a coffee and lagoon walk.
My only regret about these interactions is that I didn’t ask them a few more questions about why they’ve chosen to travel, and the lives they live back home. I would love to share their stories and possibly inspire those who are thinking of changing their lifestyle (even if for a short while) and taking a pause from their current life for some adventure and exploration. If you’re reading this and thinking “oh, that’s me!”, feel free to reach out. I've had my share of experience leaving the normalcies of life behind and getting comfortable with the unfamiliar, and love supporting others in doing the same.
Taking space to see the world through childlike eyes can be done by disrupting our regular routine. And it’s such a gift. Give it a try. Take a different route (or mode of transportation) to work and get curious about your surroundings. Or go to a different exercise class that you wouldn’t normally do. Keep telling yourself you’re not creative? Go to a pottery class or paint night. You might start to see the world a little differently, and for me, it’s exciting to see that there are so many others out there who are choosing a lifestyle different from the typical definition of success. I believe it’s time to wake up to what matters in this world, and that may look different for each of us, as we are all individuals. Here’s to choosing a life that gives us a sense of purpose and happiness, rather than living someone else’s dream.
***Disclaimer: I am not saying that everyone should leave their life behind and hit the road, but I’ve certainly noticed that even the briefest retreat from real life gives us the space to reflect and return to what’s most important to us as humans.***
So here’s to the start of the adventures with Laura and Lucy, and the connections with those I am sure to meet along the way. I have met some amazing people on my adventures, and to you I’m grateful for the inspiration. I’m not sure where this adventure will lead to, or who I’ll meet next, and for me that’s the most exciting part. Hope you’ll come along!