30 Days In New York – Day 10 - One Year Unemployed And Backpacking

It didn’t go as planned. I was supposed to travel around the world. It was supposed to be for 1 year. I didn’t complete it. Now, I’m living in New York City.

I did 7 months in South America. Then I came back to the United States.

#1 I learned things don’t always go as planned. That’s a good thing. I would not have changed the way the last 12 months turned out. I had an epic 7 months exploring and discovering South America. I then returned to my hometown in New Jersey.

This summer I spent the most time I’ve ever spent with my Mom, since I was a teenager. I connected with lifelong friends I went to elementary school. I spent 2 weeks with some of my best friends in San Diego.

#2 I continued to do what I love; reading and writing and sharing what I learn with others. I can find and create inspiration anywhere. I can pick up a book, and my laptop and I’m in Neverland. I can be in the mountains of Patagonia, a coffee shop in Jersey, or the NYC library. It doesn’t matter. Start searching for and working on your love project wherever you are. Travel is not a requirement.

Having said that, #3 I learned longer-term travel is a must! Travel is one of the best gifts I’ve ever given myself. I’ve become more cultured. I learned a new language. I became a deeper and more open-minded person. It can help you find that love project if you haven’t yet found one yet.

It’s also alleviates burnout. It slowed me down, and gave me space to gain perspectives I couldn’t see in my “before travel” lifestyle. It’s an experience worth the sacrifice.

#4 The fear of leaving your old way of living is laughable. I built up so much worry and stress to leave my job and lifestyle. Looking back I laugh at how hard I thought it would be, yet seeing how is easy it actually was. All the fears were imagined. They weren’t real.

I didn’t feel threatened once in the South American “3^rd world countries.” I was afraid to let down my company. I was afraid to tell my boss. My company, and my boss embraced and supported my decision. Our relationship remains, and the company kept the door opened for me in the future.

#5 I would have never gotten over the fear without the help of a friend. Good friends are mentors and motivators. They help tame your fears. I would not have made this decision without Chris, who I traveled with 5 of the 7 months. He resolutely decided to leave his job and embark. He encouraged me to join. I needed this nudge to make my own resolute decision.

The metaphor happened bungee jumping in Colombia. I couldn’t jump on my own. The worker on the plank literally had to push me off. I get scared. I hesitate sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with that. Put yourself in a position to get helped by others. You come out of it defying gravity.

#6 I learned to love nature. I hiked. I camped for the first time in my life. I experienced a deeper connection with the Universe. I felt a deeper connection with myself. I realized not only that I am within the Universe, but the Universe is also within me. This is a good thing to remember, especially while living in the city.

#7 I learned how to keep life simple. I guess I’m a minimalist now, whatever that means. I sold most of my possessions. I live out of 2 bags. I no longer have physical baggage. This helped me let go of a lot of my mental baggage too. Life is peaceful when it’s simple. My life has become richer by letting things go. Addition by subraction.

#8 I learned keeping a budget and living with less is superhuman. I never kept a budget. I’d spend recklessly while I was making an income. No income smartened me up quick. I track my money. I made smarter decisions. I also learned to live and be comfortable with less. Less luxury, less fine dining, less comfort.

It’s helped me in 2 facets: The first is I appreciate and honor the luxuries more when I do treat myself.

Second, I gave myself the super human ability to try new things and take new chances. I’m willing to risk and create new things because I know I can live on less. If money isn’t coming in fast enough, or if new endeavors completely fail, I know I can live on the bare minimum.