wtf am i doing?

What the fuck am I doing?

I'm a writer. I've always loved writing - and I've been pretty good at it. I tested out of comp classes in college. I've aced papers in school. I'm relatable, funny (I mean, I think I am), I do a ton of travel research, so I know what I'm talking about. So why do I feel like I'm going to sound like an idiot when I go to post? The fear of being seen is such a strong one for me (one I’m still working through in therapy). So I decided I'm just going to start writing and get comfortable in this space again. When I speak my fears, their power is diminished - I feel like the same can be said for the written word, right?

How did I decide I wanted to become a travel blogger? Well, I love travel - everything about it. Yes, even the delays and hiccups that inevitably come with it. I still pick a window seat every time I fly so I can look out at the wonder of seeing the world from above. To watch the ground get farther and farther away on takeoff. To get lost in the clouds.

I love the feeling of walking out of the airport and having the same sun hit you in a brand new place. The sun, a reminder of our connection - paired with the new sights, sounds, and smells of somewhere I've never been. Hearing different music and different languages. Knowing that whatever experiences I have here, they're going to be new, and they'll tickle every one of my senses in a way I haven't felt before.

That taxi ride from the airport to the first destination, filled with new sights. People living their lives like it's a normal Tuesday - going to work, walking their dogs, taking their kids to school - when I'm here just to take it all in and experience something new. Isn't it wild to think about everyone doing essentially the same things all around the world, just in different ways? It absolutely fascinates me.

I want this travel blog to be something informational for travelers - tips on how to find the best deals, how to get around a destination - but I also want readers to feel something. A twinge of excitement. The ability to picture themselves stepping out of their comfort zone, out of the box of "regular" traveling we've all grown accustomed to, and into their own adventure. I also want this to be a travel diary for myself, so I can reflect back on where I've been - both the places and the feelings I've experienced along the way.

I hope to inspire you to experience your own kind of adventure and do something that scares you a little. So here I am, doing something that scares me, too. On the other side of that "wtf am I thinking" moment is "that was the most incredible adventure of my life and I can't wait to do it again."

Let's go, together.