We’re all yearning for a life that means something. Too many of us are stuck in jobs that drain our emotional and physical energy. We hoard vacation days, dreaming of the next wonderful trip to the next wonderful place. Perhaps you’ve always loved traveling and experiencing new sights, sounds and cultures. Or perhaps you moved around a lot as a kid and still feel the pull of the wide world calling to you. A life that includes all your dream travel destinations is possible, now more than ever before. Living and working abroad is not only attainable but becoming more socially accepted as people continue to strive for work-life balance.
And just because you love to wander, it doesn’t mean you’re not grounded.
Seek Your Bliss
Constantly searching for what makes you happy doesn’t make you selfish, it makes you human. We weren’t put on this planet to suffer. We’re meant to live a life full of joy, friendships, endless adventure, and beautiful experiences. This doesn’t mean there won’t be heartbreak and stress along the way. But it’s all part of the journey to mold us into who we were meant to be.
Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone
If you always go to the same places and do the same things, the only thing you’ll learn is how to learn to hate the place you once loved. Having favorite places is wonderful and a fun way to relive old memories, but if you never venture any further you won’t know how far you can go. Write down a list of places that you think are fascinating, even intimidating. Think big, then think bigger! If your list doesn’t scare you just a tiny bit, you’re limiting yourself. The bigger you can dream, the more rewarding the experience will be when it arrives. Now take that big destination bucket list and GO!
Put Down (Internal) Roots
Living a nomadic life can be all at once exhilarating and draining. As you embark on your life’s next journey, make sure you have some internal roots established. This can mean a consistent prayer or devotional practice, a grounded yoga practice, or any other means that help you stay centered in our fast-paced world. This groundedness will be tested on your journey. The thing that has always kept you centered may feel like it fails you at one point (or many times). But it will also be the thing that can keep you on track. Coming back to the mat can help you feel at home on the beach, in the jungle, on a boat or in the desert. Setting aside a few moments for prayer or meditation can allow you to create a more open heart to whatever experience comes next. If your internal roots run deep, there is no limit to how tall your spirit can grow into your life.
Learn and Grow
Speaking of growth, you’ll never be the person you thought you set out to be. And this is perfectly ok. Journeys, no matter how far or near, long or short, always teach us about ourselves. You may find the love of your life along the path. You may lose that love. You could end up with your dream job, one that you never imagined having. Whatever the journey brings your way, know that it is all meant for your good. The universe works in ways that conspire to create a more meaningful and fulfilling life for each of us. You’ll do the most evolving you’ve ever experienced on the road, but that evolution will be the greatest experience of your life. It is the experience of life.
Never Stop
Living abroad stops becoming “abroad” if you’re never in one place for too long. You become a true global citizen. You’ll cultivate an appreciation for small luxuries and comforts, but become stronger for the things you’ll learn to live without. You’ll see the world through eyes that aren’t new, but wiser. Seeking the good in every situation, learning the lessons set before you and “earning your stripes” as a wanderer will change the way you look at life. It’s the only one you’ll be given, so if your soul is calling you to go, who are you to stop?
Sara Sherman is a freelance writer, yogi and accidental island girl living on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Contact Sara via her website at www.SaraMSherman.com, and read more about her island adventures at www.IslandersFromIowa.com