I’ve been super busy exploring the world, taking photographs and eating a lot of good food recently that I haven’t posted in a while. Understandably to myself I am currently travelling and loving every minute so needn’t beat myself up about not posting enough blogs. But I've managed to find myself some time (whilst sunbathing on a beautiful beach in Koh Samui… I know it's a tough life), to write out a new blog.
Koh Samui beach
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a few reflections on what I’ve overcome on this travel trip that I didn’t think I would have before. They might be small things to someone else but to me, they are seen as big achievements. I've learnt over the years it’s important to be proud of yourself.
I used to be a bit of a scaredy-cat, shall we say. I was pretty scared of a lot of things, not being the most adventurous person but since travelling, I will try pretty much try anything now, I actually enjoy the challenge now. This being through different activities, going to new places or participating in something I didn’t think I would before. Anything that makes me push myself and takes me out of my comfort zone.
Since experiencing so many new things my motto in life is always ‘do things in life that scare you’. The number of times I’ve been unsure about something or scared, have then turned out to be some of my proudest and best moments.
Now I’m not saying you need to go crazy or extreme but sometimes it can be smaller things that really make an impact.
One of the first times was when I flew to China on my own (ok this isn’t a good example of saying it can be something smaller)! But I hated flying. It scared me, any sign of turbulence I’d be clutching onto the person next to me, this being a friend, relative or a poor stranger who was unlucky to have their seat next to mine! I was a nervous flyer, as they say, nothing extreme but I definitely wasn’t confident. (It’s funny because I was actually debating becoming an air hostess at one point, even going to an interview. I mean I guess it would definitely cure the fear, flying every day. Not sure how I’d look to the costumers having a scared air hostess though)!
So boarding the first flight fully on my own to head to a country I’ve never visited before and was so culturally different than the UK, I was nervous and scared. Luckily the flight was good. I had a whole row of seats to myself, only a slight bit of turbulence and I was flying with BA - so that was a treat in itself. This turned out to be not only one of my proudest moments for myself but also where the love of travel first began.
China, Beijing - Olympic stadium
Another fear in my life is or was heights. (I’m still not sure if this is fully gone). So when Andy said ‘we have to climb the harbour bridge’ In Sydney I was sceptical. I had come away on this travel saying to people I wasn’t going to climb the bridge, 'it’s too high’ and ‘I wouldn’t enjoy it’.
So when we were there in Sydney with the bridge right there, I was still not sure. It was only until Andy said ‘well I’m going to climb it, if you do or not’ did it make me go yes I’m going to do it.
What changed my mind? Not a fear but I suffer from ‘FOMO’ - The Fear Of Missing Out!! So there was no way I was going to let Andy climb it and I miss out on all the adventure, having to listen to Andy afterwards bang on about how good it was.
So I went up! And well I didn’t regret one second of it. Our instructor was great and put me at the front next to him, (probably knowing I was feeling a little anxious). This made me relax slightly knowing that I was next to the right person, you know ‘just in case’. I think the first bit was probably the worst, actually walking to get onto the main bridge. You could see below you, there were gaps and narrow paths but once we were on the actual bridge it was a breeze (literally because it was a windy day).
Australia, Sydney harbour bridge
So has my fear of heights gone? That’s still unconfirmed. But after the harbour bridge climb we’ve gone to a high treetop walk through redwoods forest in New Zealand (which was higher than expected) we’ve gone up in a parasail overlooking the bay of islands in NZ and I was even debating jumping out of a plane at god knows how high! So I think that is a pretty big achievement for me, from being scared of climbing the harbour bridge to participating in all these other height related adventures with ease too. A few months ago I wouldn’t have even dreamt of even thinking of doing a skydive but I was seriously considering it. The only part that actually held me back this time was the cost of it. For this travel trip, I hadn’t budgeted or put money aside for a skydive, which can be pretty expensive. And this was probably one of the first times I had to say no to something, (my best friend, Robyn and I have this problem where we just can't say no to anything and we’ll just do anything and everything despite the cost, we think about the aftereffect of money much later on after it’s already been done)! But this time I really did have to say no, travelling without an income currently wasn't exactly the most ideal time to go over budget.
But the fact that I was debating the skydive was a big step for me. So it’s added to the bucket list and will be done at some point… ideally abroad with an amazing view below.. but it's a great accuse to book another trip away (if I even needed an accuse).
Flying over New Zealand
If I take anything away from travelling it would definitely be that it has made me a lot more adventurous. Even in a few months, I’ve overcome things I wouldn’t have thought I would have done before.
Life is full of unexpected obstacles, challenges and scary moments but is all there to be overcome.
Amy x