Last month I took a bus to Milwaukee from Madison and took a one way ticket to New York City. I haven’t seen my apartment in Madison since. Parts of this trip were planned and other parts were not. I knew I’d be somewhere on the East Coast for at least a couple weeks for sure. By the time I get back to Madison, I will have been gone for almost a month, taking trains, buses, cars and walking wherever I thought a friendly face or comfortable place to sleep might await.
Although I saw lots of sights (I’m taking a lot more pictures now than I have in a while), landmarks and people, this trip was more of a James Ryan Moreau inspired itinerary than anything I’ve ever done. Each place I went to, I met up with and was hosted by some great people, barring an interesting night spent in a New York City hostel. Having a completely open ended schedule allowed me to not feel rushed, which is how I’ve felt pretty much non-stop for the last 4 years straight. The result was my ability to easily talk with each person I hung out with about life, not just about my pressing professional and personal matters. Talk about the sun, the sky, music, marksmanship or just life’s awesomeness in general.
Why is this important to me? Well, I see the opportunity to frame life’s choices in relation to your obligations to other people’s desires, your own “needs” that haven’t been really questioned and society’s general expectations as always present. Usually while you work, establish financial security, take a lover and obsess over stability, the decisions that life seems to keep cramming down your throat always need to be made with “reality” in mind.
I’m not really living with reality in mind right now. I’ve seen places, met people and done things that I am really interested in pursuing to various degrees and as far as I’m concerned, all options are officially on the table. Why not? Unless there’s some concept of shame that I’m more than likely missing out on from holding a full-time job, then I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do, just under different circumstances than I had predicted.
Everywhere I’ve went and everywhere I’m going, I want to feel like I’m moving towards something, not running away from or trying desperately to hold onto something. This trip gave me plenty of time to think on what’s out there, how I can get to it and realize why living in the moment un-rushed is just as important as figuring out what memories I’ll be creating next.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I am so happy to hear that this experience has been so positive for you! It sounds like you’ve had an incredible journey, learning lessons that will stay with you always.
We came so close to getting to connect–but I have a feeling we’ll get another chance! The world is a small place.
Wishing you all the best, always.
YES. I love this. I felt exactly the same way starting last summer when I started gallavanting all across the country taking random weekend trips just because I wanted to. I never felt as though I was running from anything at home, but running towards a world of opportunities that were suddenly open to me. It’s SO exciting to see you embracing this. “All options are officially on the table.” That is one powerful statement!
@Doniree, it’s a weird and special time right now.. I feel like it’s a very short phase that I’m going through that I need to take full advantage of. If I do it right, it could change my life for the better. We’ll see what kind of goodies I can get out of this… and maybe even give back!
@Dena, I wish we got to chill, but I’m glad you got to see your family and catch up on rest! I wish you the best too and I’ll be eager to hear what you’re up to when our paths do eventually cross!