Flightster

“But I Can’t Travel”…I’m Calling Bullshit.

EXCUSES… this world is more jam packed with excuses than a subway in Tokyo, Japan during 5:00 PM rush hour.

And we’re all just as guilty of making them as the Chinese are of contributing substantially to that gigantic growing hole in our ozone.

Not to mention, excuses are just as eagerly accepted as the US dollar or Euro is accepted in any developing nation.

However, today if you’re someone that’s been making these excuses, well, you know what?…. I’m sorry but I am just not going to hear it. And this is why…

When I Used To Say, “I Can’t”.

Let me first tell you a bit about the old, excuse-making, “I can’t”-saying, maybe later-thinking me.

You see, the old me felt that I had a lot of things I needed to do, steps I needed to take, and processed I needed to go to  in order to even consider my dreams of world travel.

I needed to start on my career before I could travel. I needed to save up money before I could afford to see the world. I needed to decide where I wanted to go before I could book a flight. I needed to find out who would also be there before I set foot on foreign soil. I needed to learn the culture, the language, the customs. I needed to figure out visas, and fees, and living arrangements, and custom regulations.

You name it, and it was on my list of things I had to wait to do in order to leave the country.

UNTIL THE DAY I SAID ,”F- IT”.

And so when I graduated college a few years back I let myself slip into a limbo. I knew I wanted to travel again. I knew I wanted to move abroad again. I knew I felt stuck and everything everywhere was a giant sign that I needed the adventure.

But I kept telling myself, “Not right now”. “The timing just isn’t right”. “That wouldn’t be responsible.” “You’re not ready.”

Then, one morning I awoke feeling differently, and to this day I don’t know what happened inside of me that changed me, but right then and there I booked my flight to Beijing, China.

And that was that.

Why Beijing? Well, there was a work opportunity there, so I took it. It wasn’t even in my top ten list!

Did my friends think I was crazy? You bet ya! When I told them I booked my flight they were in awe. “What will you do there?” “You don’t speak the language!” “How will you afford it?” “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Was I ready? Hell No! When I boarded that 14 hour flight out of Newark, New Jersey direct to Beijing, China I was more scared than a spoiled Daddy’s girl forced to go on a week long trek with Bear Grylls along the Amazon River on one of his homemade rafts that always sinks! Although, I was a bit more excited and confident of coming out alive of course!

What was the outcome? Well, 1 year later I returned to the US a new person. It was hands down the best decision I have ever made in my entire life.

COULDA SHOULDA WOULDA

Looking back, all I can think about is what my life would be like today had caved into my excuses. What if I had decided that I couldn’t do it? What if I had decided that I had to answer all of those questions above in order to even consider going?

Sometimes you just have to stop thinking, and just DO IT!

When all is said and done, you’re what’s left. It’s you, your mind, your reflection in the mirror, your memories. Do you want to look back and see yourself staring at the maps on walls wondering what it’s like in the far right corner opposite of your own? Or do you want to look at that map and say, “I’ve been there, I’m standing here, and I’m going there.“

Image Credit

PG

Lauren Rains

Lauren Rains is a crazy, sexy, cool chick on a mission to live a life of abundant adventure, meaning, and substance. She is addicted to the following: WORLD TRAVEL: Experiencing new languages, cute boys, outdoor adventure, crazy transportation, variations on toilets, cultural differences and similarities, crazy food. Everything! WEB 2.0: Web design to social media, she's proud to be a dedicated geek. ENTREPRENEURSHIP: At 12 months she knew she couldn't work for the Machine. WRITING: Check out TheMadtoLive where she blogs about how to live the wild, crazy and meaningful life we're all meant to live! You can also start up a conversation with her about the meaning of life on Twitter at @LaurRains.

10 Comments

  1. 1 year ago
    Jaryd

    Right on, Lauren! I’m going to be following in your footsteps, it seems. I’m about to graduate college in May with degrees in Business Management and Economics, and, over the last four years, I’ve come to realize that I can’t do the 9 to 5 thing. I just don’t think I’d be happy.

    I’m currently creating a lifestyle and business that will allow me to travel indefinitely. I feel blessed that I discovered minimalism, perhaps the most powerful tool for claiming your ideal life, early on, and won’t have to wait for years and years to discover that all of our stuff is pretty much useless like most of my classmates.

    I’m hoping that in two years time I will have my student loans paid off and I will be traveling the globe meeting people, learning about new cultures and. Posts like this cement my resolve even more to give a middle finger to mediocrity and do things my way.

    Thanks for the plan-affirming post!

    Jaryd

    Reply
    • 1 year ago
      Lauren

      Hey Jaryd!

      Hell yea I like your attitude! You are a ass-kicking badass and I like your style. I, like you, realized towards the end of college that a 9-5 just wouldn’t work for me. I’ve done it before and while maybe I was doing tasks I enjoyed, the structure of it and the fact that I wasn’t working for myself literally ate at my soul haha. I just don’t function that way.

      Keep up the hard work and do everything little thing you can to fulfill your dream of doing this. Even when it is hard and you feel like you should give up or try something else, don’t. Just keep going. If I’ve learned anything lately it’s that if you work hard, stay true to yourself, and keep looking forward – you can do ANYTHING.

      Screw mediocrity. We’re changing the way the world works :)
      -Laur

      PS – I dig how you spell your name! :-P

  2. 1 year ago
    Srinivas Rao

    Lauren,

    Having recently pulled the plug myself and joined the ranks of the world travelers I would have to agree. The other night I was having dinner with my neighbor who is a retired cop and bought property here where I’m living in Costa Rica. He said basically you’re better off taking those chances because you won’t get to the end of your life and be asking the question “what if?” Fortunately I won’t be asking that question. Like you I was pretty terrified about making this move. I thought my life would fall apart if I did and my career would too. And you’ve been the first hand witness to how it’s gone so far.

    Reply
    • 1 year ago
      Lauren

      Hey Srini!
      Yea I totally know the feeling. It is absolutely life-shaking to uproot everything and go to a totally new location. Especially one where the culture is quite different from your own be it the way of life, the language, or the internet connection :)
      I mean, you go from living in LA – a crazy crowded city with endless things going on, to a town with the population of 100 in Costa Rica…that’s not a tiny change. That’s not saying, “Oh damn we’re out of creamy peanut butter I guess I’ll have to use nutty instead.” haha.
      But good for you man. You took that fear and you recognized it and accepted it, and then you didn’t let it take over you. And now, instead, looks like you’re moving even further forward than you had ever given yourself credit for at this stage! :)
      Glad I can be there for the ride!
      - Laur

  3. 1 year ago
    Kieron

    Everything in this is so true – you gotta stop making excuses if you wanna make your dreams come true. Just go and do it already!

    Great post Lauren!

    Reply
    • 1 year ago
      Lauren

      Hell yea Kieron!
      The easiest way to avoid our dreams be it anything from seeing the world to learning to become a, I don’t know, competitive ping pong player, is by listening to and giving into our excuses.
      If we can tell them to F- off, we can do anything!
      - Laur :)

  4. 1 year ago
    john Falchetto

    Lauren,

    As Erika RedHeadwriting calls them, the B— oulda sisters are the worst ones ever.

    Sometimes you are right, once you decide on something, do it. I do think that travelling around takes some preperation and not just jump in the plane. Srini planed his escape to CR for months and that made him successful.

    But in the end what really counts is taking that leap of faith, because nothing can be planned entirely.

    Love the post and the inspiration, where you off next?

    Reply
  5. 1 year ago
    Lauren

    Hey John!

    Yes they are the worst evers!!! haha. I try to do all I can to avoid them!
    And yea, so so so much of it is the leap of faith. If you don’t take a risk and place your cards you’ll never really know if you have a winning hand, ya know?

    And where am I off to next? Costa Rica is up there, but I’m also thinking maybe Spain! I lovvvee Spanish. Although, I’ve also been considering Egypt — Alexandria. We’ll see! 6-8 months and I’ll be living abroad again :)

    Reply
  6. 1 year ago
    J.T. Wenting

    sorry to say, but most people can’t just pack up and leave their home for a year with no plans for the future, no source of income to support them, and no plans for how to resume life if and when they return.

    I envy those who can, but I’m one of the great masses who can’t.
    I may not have kids to take care of, or parents, but I do have bills to pay and not enough money stashed away to pay them indefinitely without a fixed source of income.
    If I had a few hundred K stashed somewhere, I might do as you did, and probably so would many people who’re single and in reasonable health, but I don’t and neither do the rest of us.

    Reply
    • 1 year ago
      Lauren

      J.T., As I said in the post I don’t care what the excuse is or the reason is. For some of us yea it is harder to move abroad, but where there is a will there is a way.

      That’s like saying, “I’m not a good runner and even if I work hard and train each day I’ll never be able to run a marathon.” Which is bullshit. Anyone can do a Marathon, even if they have to walk.
      That’s like saying, “I’ve been heartbroken time after time, and so I’ve decided love just doesn’t exist for some people like me.” Which is bullshit. That’s your mindset.

      I’m not denying its hard to do pick up and move abroad, but for those want to do it, they do. People bring their kids. They go to country with a lower exchange rate that’s still safe (i.e. China), they consolidate their debt. They take care of their commitments and the second they’re done they go. They change their circumstances. They sacrifice certain things.

      And if you simply can’t move abroad b/c of commitments, then you can find a way to go to your dream destination if not just for the shortest amount of time. At least you’re still fulfilling your dream.

      I was a broke-ass recent college grad when I left. I moved to china. I got a job. I was smart the way I spent my cash. I took a risk. The whole thing cost $1,000 upfront.

      I don’t want to preach, but I’m sorry – the second you give yourself reasons that you can’t do anything be it big or small, is the second you will never do it. And the second you say its okay because you’re part of a group of people in the masses that can’t either, the second you feel like its acceptable.

      It’s your life man. Who cares about the masses.

      As I said in the post, I don’t want to hear excuses. I want to hear how you’re going to change your circumstances so you don’t have excuses. I want to hear about a leap of faith.

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