This week, my girlfriend and I returned home from what was meant to be three months of adventure around Canada & USA. Unfortunately just three weeks into our travels, Lisa managed to break her ankle and the Doctor suggested that we return home so she can fully heal.

Initially I was gutted, over six months of saving, quitting my job and preparing to put life on hold to explore a new country all gone in the blink of an eye.

When the doctor first confirmed that we’d be going home, I remember Lisa saying, “I feel like I’m flying home worse off. I wanted to come home feeling more confident, care free and have some direction for my life but instead I have a broken leg.” This got me thinking…

I too had seen travelling as a way to take a ‘time out,’ an opportunity to think about my own next steps in life. I’d even decided to try writing my own life plan while I was out there but instead I found myself back in my bedroom with the same insecurities.

“Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalise on what comes.” ― Zig Ziglar

A lot of the time, when we go looking for answers they never appear. We wait for that perfect moment of quiet and expect something profound to happen, a door to open, to guide us in the right direction but the truth is, there is no right direction, and there is not perfect moment and that’s probably the most important thing I’ve taken away from my brief travels. Lisa may still have a broken leg but she’ll appreciate her freedom much more once it’s healed; I may be back home and jobless but what a great opportunity to start something new… and much sooner.

“I think you travel to search and you come back home to find yourself there.” ― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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