Ever since we shared our plans to escape, explore and experience with family and friends, the resounding response has been–Good for you or awesome! Usually followed by—I wish I could do that!
What is preventing you from living the life of your dreams? Is it the job, school, kids, mortgage etc. or is it quite simply fear of change? Take a moment and write down a list of things that are stopping you.
Now let us look at each one:
You have a job!
So do billions of other people. Ask yourself “do I like my job? Do I bounce out of bed in the mornings to go to my job? If my job ended tomorrow would I be sad or would it be Yippee!” The truth is that many people’s jobs cause immense angst which one dictionary describes “as the constant struggle one has with the burdens of life”. We highly recommend reading “The Money is the Gravy” by John Clark, getting rid of the angst opens up a completely new world.
We are not telling you to go quit your job, however have you considered taking a sabbatical, or becoming a distance consultant? The The 4- Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris has some great strategies that can help you rethink your career and your lifestyle.
You are a student.
Can you take a gap year, or finish your studies online? As long as you have internet access you can work from anywhere in the world! If you are a teacher, have you considered teaching somewhere else in the world? English teachers are in demand worldwide. This is a great choice for young and old alike, as it offers the opportunity to live and work in many different cultures throughout the world.
You have kids!
This one can be trickier, however if you really want to pack up and go, they can go too. You can home school on the road, again all you need is internet access. To be honest what do you think would be more beneficial to your kids, the experience gained from exploring new cultures and countries or the daily boredom of a classroom desk.
Why not take the kids and sail the Caribbean for two years, as some of our friends did? Others packed up the whole family and moved to Australia, the kids went to school there, dad finished his degree and mom worked as a distance consultant.
You have a mortgage!
Having a home gives you many options. Let someone else pay it while you are gone! Rent your house out or do a long term House swap , basically you exchange homes with someone else in the area you wish to visit. The other option is of course to sell your property, who knows you may want to buy elsewhere in the world. It is getting easier all the time.
The biggest challenge in making any decision is fear of the unknown! Speaking from personal experience, I know that each time I faced my fear and acted in spite of it, I never regretted it! Ask yourself this, when you are lying on your deathbed, reflecting on your life will you be thinking I wish I had done____________ you fill in the blanks!
“The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.” ~Louis E. Boone
Contact us today to find ways to change whatever is holding you back.
