Escaping your comfort zone

   The past (almost!) four months have been a huge learning experience for me, and not always in a bad way. I had some personal goals I wanted to reach while on this trip, and I've already gotten closer to accomplishing a few of them. I believe a trip like this would be a good thing for everyone, but even just moving to a new place where you didn't know anyone, for just a few months, could be a good change for many people I know. It puts you in a very vulnerable position but allows you to learn so much about yourself.
   Ever since I was younger I had always been painfully shy, in high school that got a little bit better, but I'd still be nervous in social settings. After going to so many job interviews while on the road, I don't find myself getting nervous for them anymore. If I don't get the job, I'll find something else, it's not the end of the world. I enjoy working with the public, and have an easier time making conversation now. I'm still quiet because I'm not a chatty person, but I do enjoy hearing people's stories. I've learned I'm definitely more of a listener. I love hearing about the different places people have lived, different jobs they've had, their hobbies, and even suggestions on places I'd like to eventually visit. In North Carolina I even line danced with strangers, even though I'm not good at dancing!

   As a part of the younger generation, and recently graduating high school a year ago, you always hear how important it is to go to college, get a good job, and make lots of money. But for what? Sure, money is important, you cannot actually live without it, but it isn't everything. Yes, I have long term goals that require money (lots of dogs and a diesel don't pay for themselves LOL) but I also have to remember to enjoy life. Some days it's hard when I see people my age moving into apartments with their friends, getting lots of tattoos, or a pretty new car, but I have to remember just how much time they spend at work to pay for all these things. It's not that I just get to lounge around on this trip, I work full-time jobs, but it's not jobs that make me miserable. I'd rather make less and be happy, than make a ton of money and be unhappy. I remind myself that eventually I'll get to do some of those things I want to do, but right now I'm getting to fulfill my dream of seeing the country. So many of these people my age may never get to see as much as I have in these past few months.

   My biggest goal for this trip was learning self-love. The past five years or so I spent a lot of time in unhealthy friendships and relationships. There were people that I allowed to walk all over me for the simple fact of, "oh we've been friends for years" or "but I'm 'serious' about them." If someone cared about you, they would not hurt you, plain and simple. They wouldn't purposefully put you down and use you as their own personal doormat. I don't believe you should shut people off completely, never allowing yourself to get hurt could also make you miss the chance of a lifetime. I've learned a lot about what I want to surround myself with, and I've learned a lot about who my real friends are since I've been on the road. Distance makes things harder, I don't talk to some of my closest friends as much as I used to, but it also proves what bonds are real.
   I'm excited to see what the next four months hold, and how much I'll learn and how many experiences I'll gain during them. Being away can be hard, but I'd rather be able to say I followed my dreams and chose where my life went, instead of allowing it to be the same every year as it had been. I feel like if I had never left, I would have never figured out who I really was. I know who I am will change some throughout my life, but learning some of these huge lessons are things I hope to take with me to the next chapters of my life. I've learned to love being out of my comfort zone.