How I went from a small town in rural Georgia to living on the coast of Australia!
Being from a small town meant exactly what you think. Everyone knows everyone and their mama (literally) and the majority of people end up spending most of their life there, but I had always wanted more.
As soon as I graduated I moved to Savannah, Georgia. It’s about 2.5 hours away from home, a much bigger city, a coastal town, and as far from that small town as I could get with in-state tuition.
As my time in Savannah passed by, my desire to travel further only grew. Meeting people from far away places and coming from different cultures fascinated me. I realized that whether you were from across the country or the world, we all live in totally different worlds on the same planet. The foods we eat, our traditions, our language, religion, etc; those things all make us incredibly unique!
It was hard for some of my family and friends to accept that I was planning to leave them for a year to travel. Excited of course, but this was something no one they knew had ever done before. I was breaking a barrier without ever realizing it…I only saw it as following my heart. I knew I was taking a chance by leaving everything I had once knew to start a life of uncertainty and spontaneity. I sold or donated most of my belongings, ended my apartment lease, and handed the keys to my car over to my younger brother.
The only thing left was to jump on a flight and begin my new life!
It was Saturday, January 5th when I arrived in Sydney, Australia. It was the middle of the summer, boats were in the harbor, and the sun was shining over the city. I was overwhelmed with excitement and all the while so proud of myself. I couldn’t grasp the reality that I had finally made it across the world and as I looked out the window I felt an immense amount of comfort. It felt like it was exactly where I was supposed to be, and I truly hadn’t felt that way in years.
I won’t say that I wasn’t afraid because I was! I couldn’t sleep well for months leading up to it and I would worry that I was making the right decision. I hated the thought of leaving my friends and family for so long, but it was a necessary sacrifice to make my dream a reality.
That’s truly something I encourage everyone to consider. Are your dreams a priority in your life? If so, are you willing to sacrifice the comfort of that small town lifestyle, the everyday ‘norm’ to make it happen?
All I can say to that is…DO IT!
I’ve had the best and most exciting years of my life since I made that giant step, and you won’t regret it if it’s something your heart truly desires.
*If traveling the world is something you’ve always dreamed of, I want to hear about it! Leave a reply down below and I’ll be sure to reach out!:)
Against The Grain Travel 