My first job out of college was working at the airport on Nantucket as an Operations Specialist. I worked from 2pm-10pm and it was glorious. I slept in, worked out on the beach, worked hard, and played hard. I swore I was never going to work a 9-5…that sounded like death by office job.
But before I knew it, I had moved across the country to Portland, Oregon, and was working a 9-5. Well, to be precise, it was an 8:30-5 with an hour lunch, so it was a 37.5-hour gig. That somehow sounded so progressive and acceptable. It meant a stable schedule, weekends off, and more pay than the average hourly position at the time. AND I was using my degree in Aviation, so it checked a lot of the boxes.
And there I was, living the life I swore I wouldn’t live. But stability, predictability, resume building, a reputable job for a family-owned business…all the things I ‘should’ be seeking. The things I ‘should’ be doing.
But somewhere along the way, I started to feel really unsettled. I felt boredom sinking in. I was restless and angsty. So in a quiet afternoon, I decided the cure was to get my Master’s Degree. It was a goal, it was something to focus on, a new endeavor.
Which, as you might imagine, led to another 9-5, albeit a new and exciting opportunity. Until that wore off…and on to the next…and one final time before I realized that doing the same thing in a new location, for a new company did not quench the thirst inside of me for something radically different.
Wonderlust set in somewhere along the way; I have longed to travel, to explore, to be untethered. And yet, I kept pursuing things that kept me from stepping into what could be. I was so caught up in what should be…the stable life, buying a home, a dependable income, maybe a family.
In spite of all of that, here I am now, currently in Virginia (the first stop on my nomadic journey), figuring out what life looks like when we step into what we actually want: the things that bring us contentment, fulfillment, and joy.
While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with living a traditional lifestyle, I just knew it didn’t work for me. It was like an old hand-me-down coat that was just a little too tight. So after years of trying to fit into that coat, I finally donated it to someone who can really use it and now I’m off to find a coat of my own.
As I travel and explore and live everywhere and nowhere, I am stepping into what I have always dreamed of. Because really, this is my deepest desire in action.
I’m happy to have you along for the ride. I hope my travels and adventures spark something in you. No matter what your deepest desire is, know it is real and it is valid. Take a moment to reflect on what it is you really want for your life and take a small action to make it happen.
This life of living on the road didn’t actualize overnight. It has been years in the making, with a hard push over the last months to kick it into reality. So take that first step: get really curious. What do you want? And what do you need to do today to set that into action?
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