The Start of A New Life
Our lives are a culmination of decisions we make. Every thing we do each and every day is a decision and we are always only one decision away from a completely different life. What would you life look like if you changed any of your daily routines? If you decided to make a dramatic change and take an action that helps you step into the life you’ve been dreaming about?
Although we are only one decision away, let me tell you about some of the decisions in my life that led me to this point. Travel has always been something close to my heart. It’s been a burning desire of mine for as long as I can remember and it wasn’t necessarily limited to any particular type of travel. Whether it was for fun, to see family, for business, to fulfill a spiritual purpose I wanted to go do it. As a result, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel more than a large majority of people that I know. I love every experience that I’ve had traveling even the experiences that may not have gone exactly the way they were planned. That said, I still want more. More adventure, more experiences, more exposure to culture, to see more of this glorious planet that we call Earth. The time to experience this has arrived and I’m excited to share it with you!
Up until that time I had been firmly rooted in a home that was purchased in 2001. I had a job that felt like a career that I had been at for 11 years. I had a husband and a son, my parents and his parents were in the same city as us so we had family close by. On the outside it would have appeared that life was picture perfect, the American dream. This was polar opposite of what I was going through internally and the manifestation of that unrest was about to become profoundly apparent.
2015
In the second 1/2 of 2015 my husband came to me to discuss a partnership opportunity that had come his way on his business. In order for that to come to fruition we needed to relocate to South Carolina. It wasn’t Florida, which had always been my dream, but it was on the coast and it was someplace else. Anyplace else. I wholeheartedly jumped in head first. My husband was in South Carolina already for work so my son and I make the trek across the country in the car to explore the area. I fell in love with it and started preparing for the trip as soon as I got back home.
I put my house on the market and it sold within 2 weeks. We weren’t quite ready to move yet so I rented an apartment, expecting that to be a short-lived solution. After all, we were moving across the country! How exciting!!!! I absolutely believe that this was the beginning of a whole new life for me. That opportunity ended up not working out and the apartment that I had rented became more like home than anticipated.
2016
In January of 2016 I decided that moving was likely off the table and I was approached about an opportunity to change careers. It came with a hefty increase in salary and presented itself at a time when I needed a change. I decided to make the move from a secure job of 11 years with a company that had been around for over 20 years to a job with a start-up company that had only been around for a couple of years. I am so glad that I made this choice. I learned a lot in the short time I was with the company, both professionally and personally. I also discovered that this new line of work wasn’t really the best fit for me.
2017
In early 2017 my marriage came to an abrupt end. Or at least I felt it was abrupt but since this was the third time we tried going through this process, it shouldn’t have been a huge surprise. This came just months after renting a house in Florida and deciding to once again embark on that cross country journey to relocate to a new area. This time in the area I have been dreaming about since I was little. When my ex and I went through the uncoupling process, losing this opportunity hurt more than the actual separation did. I didn’t know it at the time, hindsight is always 20/20, but this was the catalyst that I had been longing for.
What I discovered in those months after my husband and I separated was that I had no idea how to build connection and relationships with people. Sitting at home on a Friday night, lonely, sad and with the realization that I had no one to talk to was a game changer for me. No one was going to reach out to me to do anything, to talk to be the friend that I desperately wanted. I scrolled through my contact list and realized that I didn’t have anyone in my list that I would do that for either. I decided in that moment that I would do whatever it took to change that.
This is how I discovered couchsurfing. I picked up my computer and googled how to make friends. Yes, I am admitting that to the world and it’s ok. It’s where I was at. It’s part of my story and if I hadn’t done that I wouldn’t be the person I am today doing any of the amazing, fun and life fulfilling things that I am doing. Not to mention the reason that you are reading this post.
The discovery of couchsurfing has uncovered an entirely new method of travel that wouldn’t have ever thought to look for. The knowledge, friendships and experiences I have gained through couchsurfing have contributed to some of the most amazing moments of my life. I’m am thrilled to be expanding my awareness around couchsurfing and I am going to put the shoe on the other foot and be the traveler instead of the host.
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