New Beginnings

When I graduated college I was left with a very confrontational decision: what do I do now? I had always been a very career driven girl- wanted to get straight A’s and work internships and work towards “something big” and that something big up to that point had always been my degree. Once that was accomplished I really struggled to find myself as I searched for the next “big” thing.

I was at a fork in the road, I could take the “big girl” job. Very cushy, making great money and being back home with family. It was like Willy Wonka, and I was Charlie and won the golden ticket.

But, it didn’t feel right.

So instead I risked it all. I bought a one way plane ticket to Alaska and didn’t look back. When I made my decision I told myself, “it had to be the right decision because it was the decision I had made.” I found a lot of comfort in that reminder. I would never know what the other path looked like, and I didn’t need to because life would keep beating on and I would continue figuring it out at every fork I encountered.

I look back now, almost three years later, and I thank my lucky stars for the decision I made. It had caused so much pandemonium for me internally, at the time. But that one decision helped me fall in love with myself, fall in love with a place, fall in love with a job, and fall in love with a person.

I got to travel the world half the year and then I got to work the neatest job the other half. I got to meet some salt of the earth people along the way with inspiring stories, and the list goes on.

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Through all of this, I was given a new opportunity. Over the last few months we changed gears, found a place to call home, and I started a new job.

I now have the joy of having my spice rack with the exact spices we spent ages combing through at our favorite grocery store. The comfy bed with my specialty morning coffee. I have my desk setup to look out the window at the park with the neighborhood dogs walking by. Spending the weekend strolling through Target and Home Goods looking for a new rug or holiday decor. Excitedly finding a great deal on Facebook Marketplace. Going to our local planet fitness within our routine. These are just some of the luxuries that I missed when living out of a suitcase, constantly going place to place. Now these are some of the small joys that I have daily!

I don’t plan to stop traveling and exploring, but the capacity might just look a little different now. I had found myself at a crossroads again. I felt jaded and complacent. I wasn’t appreciating the unique places I was at, the worldly things I was seeing, and I had tunnel vision to cultural immersion. Which could only mean one thing: time for something new!

As silly as it may sound, I was excited to stop traveling full time and start a “9-5” lifestyle. It would be something new, a learning opportunity. And with some time, I think it’ll give me a bigger appreciation for what I was doing before. Already, I’ve started looking back at pictures and think about how beautiful it was, “I was there?!”

Now, instead of planning getaways to the next big city, or an off the grid hike, I’m planning the next time I get to see my family. I’m getting to hug grandma more often, and visit my childhood home more times in the last 3 months than I have in the last three years. And it’s such a good feeling to be reconnecting with those who’ve always stood in my corner of the boxing ring, no matter what corner of the world I was in!

I guess what I’m trying to say, in shorter words, is I’m so thankful for the lifestyle I had, but I’m so happy I jumped in feet first to this new lifestyle, and we’re finding a happy balance of both!

Happy New Year, let’s see what the next one brings!

Cheers,

Tay