Step one: why a world trip?
Once you finally take that leap and make the decision to make a world trip panic often sets in. You have a million questions you want answered. Slow down and realize that everything can and will fall into place. Step 1 takes you through the very beginning stages of planning your trip and sets the foundation for the rest of the planning process. This step takes you back to why you made this big decision and what your personal goals are making this world trip.
There are more people wishing to go on a world trip than the people that actually had the guts to really do so. So what is the reason you want to take a world trip? Is it something that you’ve really sat down and thought about? Have you come up with your “Why?” For most of us travel lovers, the initial answer is something along the lines of, ‘I want to see all the places I’ve dreamed about.’ But if you really think about it – digging deep – I would guess that you have a bigger purpose than just ticking cities, countries, sites, and experiences off your list. Everyone has a life story. So what is your story? What made you decide to go on a world trip?
Your why can change
Your initial why to go on a world trip can change if you dig deep. I always dreamed about seeing the world, not particularly in the shape of a world-trip, but more in the shape of backpacking in some countries. My initial why was to see some amazing countries like China and New Zealand and tick off some bucket list items. I had this dream for more than 10 years, but I didn’t had the guts to actually do it. I was afraid to take such a risk: giving up a good job at the beginning of my career and do something that most people think is so unconventional? My love for travel stayed, but it wasn’t big enough to take the leap to go on a world trip and leave my chances behind of having my own house and start a family. Until 2018/2019 after my burnout….
During that period I paused and looked back at my life: ‘how did I come to this point?‘ I learned that I haven’t done the things I’d like to do and I only did what society expected from me: having a career, a boyfriend, a house and a starting a family. Thinking about what I really liked and what my dreams were I realized that I didn’t had the guts to go to follow them. I wanted to get out off the daily grind and live! My love of travel was enough now to contemplate taking off to see the world, but it wasn’t the only reason. I needed to reflect and dug deep to see what really got me over the hump. Besides my “why” to live my dream of traveling, there is also the “why” to find myself. What makes me happy? What do I want to do with the rest of my life? And – like many others who choose to take the leap of faith and travel around the world – it ultimately came down to one thing – regret. In 5, 10, 20, 30 years, what would I regret more? Playing it safe and joining the million of others in the rat race? Or taking a risk and doing what I really wanted to do?
My initial why changed to finding my own happiness….
My reasons are an example. But there are more reasons to go on a world trip, for example:
- I don’t want to wait for retirement. I want to see the world when I am young.
- Regret! On my death bed, I don’t want to think about the things I was too scared to do. I want to remember the great things I experienced in my life.
- I’m not sure what I want to do and I feel uninspired in my current life. Long-term travel may help open and challenge my assumptions of what is possible.
- I want to learn about a specific part of the world, and by going there, meeting and talking to the people, and learning about it is the best way.
- I have always dreamed of seeing [Machu Picchu, the Pyramids, Everest, the Great Barrier Reef, etc.]
- I have a physical accomplishment on my list – hiking Everest, the Boston Marathon, etc.).
- I want to volunteer and really make a difference, not just do it for a few days or a week.
My life story
Above is a short summary of my reasons and story why I want to go on a world trip. Want to read more about my life story? Why I stopped only dreaming about traveling and made the decision to take action and actually go on a world trip?
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Special thanks to Bootsnall.com for all the guidelines and information on how to plan a round-the-world trip!