Doing stuff even though you’re terrified

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Often when people find out I’m going on a big solo trip, one of the first things they say is ‘Oh how brave!’. I don’t agree with this sentiment at all, and to be honest I don’t love it when people say that either. I know they mean well, but I just don’t think it’s particularly brave to just do what you want, and let’s face it I’m just going on holiday for as long as possible. What’s brave about that?

Saying that, I certainly have a level of anxiety around this trip. It is a big deal, and my brain sometimes gets to thinking about all the things that could go wrong. What if I get lost? What if I can’t find somewhere to stay one night? What if I lose all my stuff? There are a million and one things that could happen.

I’ve also been nervous about being away from my friends and family for so long. I’m a real extrovert and I know I need to be surrounded by friends and people I love, so it will be interesting to see how I deal with them being the other side of the world.

In the past few months of being at home, I’ve also really gotten used to having my own creature comforts. I’ve become really used to having my space to myself, my big bed, and all my stuff in one place- which will be a far cry from sleeping in bunkbeds and living out of a 65L backpack.

But all of this anxiety is very normal so soon before a big trip. In fact, I booked my flights and tour back in the summer when I was feeling the most nervous about the whole thing.

Graduation was also very scary. Starting this blog was scary. So this whole trip is about facing a new challenge and pushing myself. It’s about getting out of my comfort zone and starting an adventure. I think it’s important to do things that scare you in life, as that’s when it’s the most exciting and enriching. If I'm scared and I want to do something, that’s when I know I need to do it.

I read some advice that when you have that anxious voice of ‘what ifs’ and things that could go wrong, you should think about the flip side- what if it’s an amazing experience?

I know I won’t get far in life by just staying in the same place and never being scared. Some people will take a new exciting career opportunity, some people will take the step to move out of home, but this is my form of adventure.

Even though it’s scary, I’m gonna do it anyway. While things will almost definitely go wrong, who knows, it may be the best thing I could do for myself.



Shepp x

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