Back to Reality

We all know that feeling. When you get home after you’re amazing trip of a lifetime feeling lost and confused wondering how and what you did before you left and why. The feeling of being complacent as you go through the daily tasks with no excitement or variation with no change day in or day out.

When I first got home to say I was miserable would be an understatement. I was over the moon to see my friends, family and boyfriend of the time- but not here. After spending so long spent with no worries, hassle free, no schedule to follow and literally deciding what I was going to do 10 minutes before I was going to do it, going back to reality seemed so mundane and impossible. I felt like I was to constantly be doing something or visiting someone just to keep busy

My first biggest realization once I got home was my unhappiness in my relationship. It wasn’t that I didn’t love him, I just wasn’t IN love with him and didn’t see my future plans lining up with his. So after 3 years together I called it quits. So many people while I was away called my trip “Soul Searching” and “finding myself” and it wasn’t until I ended things with my Boyfriend did I realize what they had meant. Because I had found myself, and I had done some soul searching, as now I knew what I wanted in my partner, where I wanted to go in my life and what I was willing to compromise on. After this my life changed completely. I moved out of our house, and after awhile into a flat with some girls. Which I hadn’t had in years, and it felt so weird to be alone. It took many phone calls to the girls and a few tears before I finally became happy and comfortable on my own. It’s one thing to travel alone and be happy than it is to be in your normal mundane routine.

My second realization was my dislike of my job. The job itself is good and always variant but I was unhappy with where I was doing it. So upon that I decided to apply elsewhere.

Another final realization was my health. I have always been a gym bunny. I have also always loved food. Before my trip I was religiously training and eating so clean that it was like Kleenex. All to make sure I was slim and healthy. Due to the way I train I am able to eat badly or indulge every so often as it is always HIIT training mixed with heavy lifting. During my 3 months abroad I actually lost weight- albeit probably muscle tone- but lost weight none the less. My eating was conscious but not restricted. I pretty much ate croissants and bagels for breakfast for 2 months straight. I also maintain much of my cardio and muscle memory. So the fact I was able to bounce back so quickly and able to maintain a lot of my fitness made me realize I didn’t have to be so strict and unhappy I can’t have some chocolate on a day to day basis and that I should enjoy the small things in life- like a glass of wine.

So all & all, the cliché line of “Travelling changes you” rings true for me and I think it changed me for the better. As now I am generally a happier person who knows where I want to go in life- or more so in what general direction. So my advice to anyone contemplating a trip is to do it! It may be scary & it may change situation in your normal mundane life but it’ll be for the good of your future. You’ll be a much happier person because of it. Happier person with many amazing memories from around the world.