Wanderlust

I've read a few blog posts this month that have really meant something to me. Rosie from A Rosie Outlook blogged about her thoughts on living. I feel like we're brought up in a society in which it's all set out for us. Get a job, get a house, get married, have children, retire. Take holidays and have days off, but basically live out a 9-5 and follow society's norms. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but as Rosie said, I'm not sure that's living.

Only recently have I had a case of wanderlust. I've always liked the idea of growing up with the set plan of getting a job and getting married and settling down. But recently I've wanted to do more. I want to travel the world. I spoke about this on Twitter, and how I'd never had the urge to go places before. I'm a bit of a scaredy cat really. If I don't know a place, or a route to drive, I get nervous and worried. But I want an adventure. Graham wants to cycle around Europe, and I can imagine cycling around and  resting wherever we can, at hostels, in tents or whatever, and eating the local cuisine and making friends with the locals. I'd ride round on a red pashley and buy baked goods from the bakers and travel from country to country. Or, take a plane to New Zealand and hike and photograph all day, eat good food and live the life of luxury. I think that it's such a waste not to travel and visit different places when we have the means to. To think we can hop on a plane and go anywhere in the world blows my mind. I'd love to visit Japan, America, Australia. Like I said, I've never wanted to before. So I feel like I've got a new found freedom in realising this and the thought of being able to do it sounds perfect. The problem is the ties. We get tied down with jobs, children, family or money. I want to travel before I get any real responsibility but I've got a job and Grahams got a job, and we don't have the money. But doesn't it sound amazing, to just travel the world and live out a backpack? Sadly, I wonder if this is just a case of wanderlust, and the dream won't ever come true. It certainly sounds like a fairtytale, meeting strangers and living in different countries. I read articles about people who couchsurf all over the world and I just can't imagine leaving and taking that leap of faith.

That brings me on to the other post I read, on Victoria's blog, Lily Loves Lola. I could really relate to what she was saying. Like I said earlier, I'm a scaredy cat. I don't do things on my own, I am much more comfortable doing new things, like taking a yoga class, with a friend but there is no way I can imagine doing it by myself. I like my own company and I'm often found alone, but doing new things without support? No way! I don't know if it's because I like to have back up? If something goes wrong, we can laugh together? I just don't have the confidence to do it by myself, as much as I'd like to. It always comes down to that confidence thing, doesn't it? I've written so many times on my blog that I wish I could improve it. Buying a plane ticket to go somewhere completely new by yourself is an extreme, but maybe that's the ultimate goal? To be able to do something like that and shock everyone but be happy? I can't even go to the cinema alone, eat out or try something new. I'd like to though. Maybe I'll start small and go from there. I'm not saying I'll ever get to the point where I'm heading out the country by myself to somewhere I don't know, but even a small step towards that is good.

Perhaps the ultimate dream, for me, is to be able to do something by myself, with no backup or safety net, and be completely unafraid. I think thats my biggest goal. What's yours?