Let Go, Jump In

            It seems life always has some sort of lesson to teach you.  I’ve noticed the lesson theme of this year is “Let Go”.  Of course, any lesson is easier said than done.  If it was easy, I wouldn’t really be learning anything.  This year has been no pleasure cruise, especially because my stubborn heart doesn’t always like to let go of things.  But I have to.  I have to let go of my past and the people in it.  I have to let go of other people’s expectations for me.  I have to let go of my former puppy, Guinness.  I have to let go of my own expectations and stop over analyzing everything.  I have to let go of resentment and fear of the unknown.  I just have to let go and jump in.

What better way to end this year’s theme then with the ultimate lesson of letting go.  Randy and I are embarking on an adventure across the European Union.  We have let go of our home and our jobs.  We are leaving behind everyone and everything we know to experience life through someone else’s eyes.  We have gotten a mixed response to this decision.  There are so many friends and family who support us (whether they want to or not), and to them I am so grateful.  They know we have made up our minds and will go regardless, but their support is invaluable none the less.

Unfortunately, there are still people who don’t understand what we are doing. Randy lost his job (which is what brought this amazing opportunity to light) and to that they say, “Why doesn’t he just get a new job like everyone else.”  To them we say; that’s not what this is about.  We know there is more to life and living then just working to pay bills.  Our whole lives we are told what is normal in society and what is expected of us.  Graduate, get a good job, buy a house, start a family, and accumulate a bunch of crap to fill your life with and keep you happy.  But that’s not happiness to us and we don’t want to be like everyone else. We want to live by our standards, not anyone else’s.  We want to enjoy the money we have worked so hard for.  We want to visit far off lands and eat foreign food (be it delicious or repulsive).  We want to harvest grapes in France, dance in the streets of Spain, hear a folk song sung in Ireland, learn about our heritage in Germany, and explore ancient ruins in Italy.  There are so many things to experience in the world that we could not stand the idea of letting this opportunity pass us by.

I won’t lie and say there are no doubts or that I’m not scared.  We will be living off of $15 – $30 a day, which is unheard of, especially for two people.  We will be putting our trust in perfect strangers, hoping they will welcome us into their homes.  We will be relying on public transportation to get us through 15 different countries for over 100 days.  There are so many variables that it would be unnatural if I didn’t second guess my decision a couple of times.  But ever since we made this decision in June, I have always had a sense of peace about it.  I feel that this is what we are supposed to be doing right now and that everything else will work itself out.  Of course, as our departure date approaches I get a little more anxious feeling like I’m not ready yet, and I have no illusions that things will not get hard for us at times.  But I know we will be taken care of and I know that when we come home our lives will not be the same. 

So whether you think we are crazy or brave, I invite you to join us on this journey, through the good times and the bad. Whether you are living vicariously through us or you are right along side us; I encourage you to let go, jump in.