The romantic idea of packing up my bags and escaping to a paradise where I find the love of my life has always been a dream of mine. I used to tell people from a worryingly young age - that I was going to marry a Brazilian man and live the most romantic adventure. I think the idea stemmed from my parents, my grandparents, and even my great grandparents - who all met through their experiences of travel. There aren’t many more romantic stories of how my dad pursued my mum from Mexico, back to Europe to meet in the city of love, and of all places under the Eiffel tower.
This wild fantasy to get out there was beyond my control and the exploration began. The irony of this story is that I started my travel life with a partner. I was not content… I was young, but very aware that there was more to experience out there. The decision to cut all ties, sacrifice my young heart, and experience my first form of heartbreak all came from my curiosity to find the unknown. June 2013, I was off with my heart on my sleeve and no plans to return.
The journeys I encountered over the next two years are enough to fill a book (trust me I intend to one day) and the seasons of self-growth that came over the years, were ones that I reflect on. Sometimes my mind is so blown by the person I used to be and the person I have become - that I need to sit down and take a minute to absorb the changes my experiences have taught me.
Traveling so young, meeting, talking and connecting with so many people who have lived and explored the world through different eyes - is a life lesson that no book could teach you. I became open to my naïve mind set, I started to become aware of my fairy-tale dreams and how really my story right now was not going to be about finding love with some tall, dark and handsome Brazilian god, but it was about falling in love with myself. I do not mean this in the narcissistic point of view. I mean this in the self-loving, healthy, energy giving type of way. The way that allows me now to take on life with such a positive mentality that benefits me and those around me. I am grateful for what I have seen and who I have met - I am grateful for who I have become and I really do put this all down to my experiences on the road, in the air and on the ocean. The world has connected me to myself in more ways than I could ever possibly imagine.
I have love stories to tell on my travels, (none with a Brazilian yet) but the priority for those affairs have not been enough to tie me down and stop exploring. Now, I do not search for that man, instead I search further into myself and I know I will find the right person that will love me and see me the way I do. With every flaw to love. For now, every days adventures, big or small are never to be taken for granted. I owe this to travel and all I can do is to urge you to never stop exploring.