My Motivation

I was talking with my cousin, Kari, the other day and telling her about what has helped to keep me on track as far as my health goals.  I haven't told many people about this but I have a big goal that is helping drive my behavior.  Travel.  I'm not talking about just our normal family vacations but rather a dream I have to take a 2-month backpacking trip. The trip destinations are still to be determined although I have some places in mind.  My goal would be to sustain out of a single backpack for the duration of the trip.  I would also write about the experience and live as a virtual/digital nomad.  This is something I've been thinking about for awhile and realized that the way I was living was going to prevent me from ever doing that among other things. And I certainly don't want to go out in life having never experienced the rest of the world.  Sure, I could continue to vacation as I currently am but some of the places I want to go aren't places with all the modern amenities.  I want to experience cultures more authentically and I know backpacking would be a great way to do this.  I also believe that to write about the world, you have to experience the world. I've found that through new worldly experiences, I have a better understanding of myself and where I fit in this world.  The day to day that we get caught up in seems so insignificant when you view it from a broader view of the world.  I have a better sense of self-awareness and overall a better sense of peace.  She joked in our conversation that I was going to "Eat, Pray, Love." While it was a joke, it was true in spirit.  I do love that book/movie because of the self-discovery journey that these locations led Elizabeth Gilbert on. There aren't many things in life that have been able to motivate me like this has and continues to each day.  I look forward to the day that I can make this a reality and report back on it.