Often people dream of quitting their day job to travel for a living. They think it is going to be a wonderful life. A few months into building this travel blog I went back to Bird’s Underwater and asked Bird if I could write an article on how amazing swimming with the manatees with his company was. I told him how I wanted to travel for a living and I asked him how did traveling change you? Bird shared his story with me about how he dropped out of college with his wife and decided to travel the world with his band. He said he did not live a glamorous life, but it was full of adventure and fun. He said after 11 years of traveling him and his wife looked at each other and said, “if we keep at this we will never have a family or own a home.” Do you want to own a home? Shortly after that they stopped their travels, bought a home, had a child and later adopted several children and he now owns Bird’s Underwater.
After hearing this story it really got me thinking. I definitely love traveling. At the time of creating this blog, I have traveled to over 42 states and 7 countries and I have over 42,000 photos. Knowing that traveling may not always be the most glamorous or comfortable I am still going to head on that journey. Traveling for a living may not be for everyone, but there is a sense of freedom that comes with traveling. We stayed in Caye Caulker in Belize and the bed was as hard as a rock, but the trip was amazing. We scuba dove one of the 8 wonders of the world, the Blue Hole. It was well worth it.
Although I have read many stories where travel bloggers talk about how they traveled somewhere and they were so poor they were eating bread for lunch etc., it doesn’t have to be that way. I have heard stories of people selling their house and everything in it, buying an RV or a trailer just to have a home base, becoming a spokesperson for a brand or product and having luxurious vacations and all the way to people sleeping in their car. Others create the blog while working full time and use their vacation time. Traveling can be as fancy or simple as you want it, but either way, traveling will change you.
Comfort Zone
How does traveling change you? Traveling for a living sounds like a dream come true, but it isn’t always fun and games. It pushes you out of your comfort zone and changes you in ways you never imagined. If you are a picky eater or have food sensitivities it can be more challenging because you will have to figure out something to eat where you are at, but sometimes a change of environment is all you need. You may have to try out new hotels or even stay in a hostel with others sleeping around you. Every day you are faced with new situations. It is great for helping someone face their fears. Whether you have a fear of heights, airplanes, eating new things or just trying something new. You definitely need to keep an open mind, be open to change and expect the unexpected.
Traveling challenges you to do something new every day. It gives you stories to tell for the rest of your life or get you out of a rut. In 2008 I jumped from rock to rock and swam my way across the rushing waters of a waterfall and climbed around the back the to top of the waterfall and sat on the edge of the waterfall. In Belize, I held a baby wild howler monkey and a wild nurse shark, and I kissed and held a stingray in the Bahamas. Traveling opens you up to things you never dreamed you would do.
Pictures are a great way of remembering the great times of the past, but sometimes we to let go of our fears of the past or fears of the future and living in the moment and follow our dreams no matter how scary it may seem. Life is short, live it to the fullest. You can sit and watch others go visit the Grand Canyon or go Whale watching on the Travel channel or you can create a life that allows you to do it yourself. Challenge yourself. Live life to the fullest potential. Don’t let excuses stop you. If you have a restrictive diet, get an RV and cook your emails in the RV. I have a family member that bought an RV for $4000 at an auction. If you are scared to go on a trip alone, bring a friend, find solutions, not limitations.
Traveling Changes You
If you like change, traveling for a living will be perfect for you. Life is ever-changing. You can visit a place or a person that you visited as a child and see people change, businesses change, countries change and people come and go in life. Traveling will teach you to be more independent. It will help you become more open to talking with people and asking for help along the journey. I have met so many wonderful people through traveling. When you travel you can end up having a friend in every city or state. If you feel alone, traveling will show you are not alone. Traveling can connect you with so many people and opportunities. It can open up doors you never dreamed was possible.
Traveling Helps
Traveling helps you see how little your problems really are. It helps you see how good you have it. It helps you see outside the box and see how big the world really is, but at the same time how small the world really is. Traveling has the potential to drive you crazy too. When you are constantly on the go you don’t have that safe haven to go relax in and chill. Traveling can really help you appreciate downtime to rest and relax. Even though traveling for a living has its challenges you always look back at the memories and are so thankful for the opportunities.
Chance it
Take a chance. Have the experience of a lifetime now. Traveling can change you for the better. Every experience will teach you something that makes you stronger, smarter and more confident. Traveling isn’t for everyone, but it will definitely bring change to your life. It will give you the gift of memories that will last a lifetime, photos to share with your friends, family and the world, fun adventures, friendships that may last a lifetime.
