"I am continuing non-stop... to save my soul."

Bernard Moitessier was a French sailor. In 1968 he was competing in the Golden Globe Race, an individual around-the-world yacht race. He was nearing the end of the race and was about to win first place when he decided to change course. He wrote a note, put it in a film canister and used a slingshot to throw it onto a freighter he passed. The note said "I am continuing non-stop toward the Pacific Islands because I am happy at sea, and perhaps also to save my soul."

This may be the most beautiful story I've ever heard. Moitessier followed his instincts, ignored the expectations of others, and chose to live the rest of his life doing what he loved. I hope to have the same kind of insight in my own life.

I began this blog more than a year ago to document the adventures I was bound to have (and did have) while I was studying abroad in the spring of 2010. Well, I didn't post anything. I didn't even write in my journal while I was there. I was so happy and content and eager to experience anything and everything that I didn't take the time to slow down and reflect on where I was and what I was doing. It's been nine months since I have been stateside and I have had plenty of time to reflect now.

After a few months of post-study abroad depression and a minor crisis of what to do next now that, at 21, I had achieved my life's goals (or so I thought) I've decided that life isn't about the grand adventures but the happiness you can find in the everyday. It is a cliché but the thing about clichés is that they are usually true. I refuse to just make it through the days between the big trips I have planned. It is time I find adventure in everything and this time I will stop and reflect upon it. It's easy to appreciate your blessings when you're sitting on a crowded airplane headed to the unknown, but it takes a little more work to be content sitting on the couch sipping a cup of tea. It is here that I will take the time to appreciate the pleasures in my life, I will create my own opportunities, and embrace the adventure in everything...

I will continue non-stop to save my soul!

A Lifetime of Adventure

My passion in life is travel. I can't get enough of it. I love everything about visiting a new place: the people, the culture, the history, the food, the attractions. I love all the planning that goes into traveling. I love packing!

I hate standing still, I always want to be doing something. My family says that that is my curse in life, but I think it's a blessing. I can't wait to be that 90 year old woman who tells stories of the time she camped with a Bedouin family in the desert or when she took a hot air balloon ride over the city of Stockholm and even stories of when she spent all day in the park down the road with her best friend. I don't know if I will ever do any of those things (well except the last one, I'm pretty sure I've done that ten times over) but I am excited for any opportunity that comes my way.

I may speak as if I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants-act-first-think-later type of girl, but I'm not. I over analyze, constantly and I have fears that include: heights, water, and the dark. I'm sure if you speak to my closest friends they could point out a few more I'm not even aware of. I do, however, never try to pass up any opportunity I am given. It may take me an hour to decide to take the opportunity, but in the end I always do.

So here I will write about my lifetime of adventures. I have no idea what the future holds but I'm ready!