Why I’m Quitting My Job To Travel

My decision to leave my “good” job has come as a bit of a surprise to some people. I’ve been asked why several times, so I decided to write this post explaining why I’m quitting my job to travel.

For maybe a couple of years now, I’ve daydreamed of a life of travel. I’ve watched countless videos of people who spend their time travelling and documenting those travels on their blogs or their YouTube channels.

Never did the world make a queen of a girl who hides in houses and dreams without travelling.

I’m tired of dreaming. Let’s face facts here, it’s less than likely that I’m going to win the lottery. So if I want to live my dreams, I need to get off my ass and work to make that happen because nobody else can do that for me.

I want to live a life less ordinary, and I have finally decided to take a giant leap towards that life. Maybe I’ll live happily ever after, and maybe it will all blow up in my face but there’s only one way to find out.

I wasn’t born to just pay bills and die.

My “good” job is actually pretty boring but physically demanding. Every day, I come home absolutely exhausted and with no energy or motivation to do any of the stuff that I planned to do that morning.

Of course we all need to work, that’s a necessary evil. But when our lives become all work and no play, something obviously needs to change. I applied for a sabbatical a couple of years ago and was turned down. So I had two choices; put my own goals and dreams on hold while I work in an unfulfilling job, or leave.

One life. Just one. Why aren’t we running like we are on fire towards our wildest dreams?

Life is so short. It has become so normal to put things off, saying that we’ll do it all “someday”. Of course there are often very real and practical reasons for that, but in my case, I have simply been making excuses fuelled by nothing more than fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of giving up the financial security that my job gives me, and fear of leaving my “safe place” where I always have support whenever I might need it.

Feel the fear and do it anyway.

I have convinced myself for so long that “I can’t leave because my family needs me”. Besides the arrogance and self importance of that belief, it could also keep me from doing the things that will make me happy. I love these awesome creatures and I know that they love me and will not be angry with me for following my heart, wherever that journey may lead me.

Does that mean that I don’t feel a little guilty or selfish? Hell, no, of course I do! But I’ve weighed up the pros and cons and I know I will have a lifetime of regret if I don’t do this now.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.

I’ve become so bored and stuck in a rut. Over the past number of years I have been basically living through other people. Their highs and lows have become my highs and lows. I get up, go to work, then come home again. I have allowed my own life to become mundane and routine and my only relief from that monotony is a sense of belonging to a bigger support network.

I rejoice in the triumphs of family and friends, and I cry during their sad times. But when I look at my own recent years, nothing has changed, and if I continue on that path, nothing will change in the future either.

One day, you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you always wanted. Do it now.

There are no second chances, no rehearsals and no do-overs. We get one shot at making mistakes and memories and figuring it all out as we go along.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

Everybody’s ideal life is different. That is what makes this world so beautiful and interesting. We all have a responsibility to “live our best lives”, cliched as that may sound.

For some of us, that means the fulfilment of having children and seeing them grow into amazing adults. For others, it means inventing and discovering and leaving a legacy that will shape the world for future generations. For me, my dream is to see as much of this world as possible; to learn about human nature and to see people interact in every possible setting.

Coming back to where we started is not the same as never leaving.

I’m not saying that I will travel forever. Maybe the day will come when I find a place where I want to stay, or maybe I will decide that I want to return to Ireland, to my support network and everything else that is familiar and comforting. For now though, there is so much out there that I want to see and I’m excited for this new chapter that I am writing in my life.