I will no longer be the person people expect me to be.
It was time to make some big changes. Maybe it's that I get uncomfortable being stagnant for too long, maybe it's that I feel less than satisfied if my adventure to non-adventure ratio is low... whatever it is, I was getting anxious sitting at my desk job here in Anchorage. Don't get me wrong, I have an amazing job with wonderful people but after two years of being unsure about what I want to be doing, I knew it was time to make a change.
solution?
quit my job.
go to south america.
recharge.
There have been a few things that have gotten me through the self doubt that came with such a huge decision:
#1 no better time than the present. I can always come back to a career in engineering, it's the time in my life when I am young, irresponsible and unattached that I can't go back to.
#2 the only two things holding you back from something are 1) you telling yourself you can't do something and 2) other people telling you you can't do something. I heard this on a TED talk and it really resonated with me. That is to say that we can really do anything we set our minds to but it is social expectations and our own fears that limit us.
My rough itinerary as follows:
Last day of work August 2nd
Salmonstock Music Fest August 2nd-4th
Move out of my place and sell all my stuff! (August sometime?)
Go backpacking/packrafting/climbing, potential trip to Haines, AK August 5th-16th
Leave Alaska August 16th
Wedding in Colorado August 17th
Climb Gannett Peak with the pops in Wyoming Aug 20th-26th
Hang out in Colorado Aug 27th-Sept 5th
Fly to Cartegena, Colombia on Sept. 5th
Colombia, Equador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina (Sept-Dec)
I have no return flight at this point. My tentative plan is to be back in Colorado for Christmas and then drive (that's right! DRIVE) back up to Alaska for majority of the ski season (can't miss that, right?).
I am not sure what this trip will bring, but I know in my heart it is what I need.
Cheers to new beginnings & new adventures!!
