Welp

I had the realization a few days ago that come Friday, I’ll be all the way on the other side of the world. There’s been so much planning and visiting with friends and family in the lead up that it still seemed far off in the distance. But it’s basically a reality. I’m sitting in the airport right now. My flight boards in three hours. Kind of wild.

I’ll be checking off a lot of firsts on this trip. It’ll be the longest plane ride I’ve ever taken; the farthest away from home I’ve ever been; the most extreme solo experience I’ve ever done.

People have asked what made me decide to make such a dramatic life change. It’s not like I’m on some important existential quest or anything. I mean, yes, it’s an adventure but it’s not an escape.

Well, maybe a nice reprieve from the work grind. That definitely doesn’t hurt.

I’ve also been asked if I have any goals for the trip. The two things that have come most readily to mind are to 1) not be as anxious or set expectations for the way people will react to things and 2) become more outgoing in the company of strangers. For the former, it’s just unhealthy to get all worked up over things that are out of your control and for the latter, I don’t have much of a choice, do I?

I also have the opportunity to redefine my relationship with creative storytelling and video editing. I’ve been doing it so long for other people that it’ll be nice to do it on my own terms and see if I’m still passionate about it. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to that craft and while the attention to detail is a positive, I can probably reallocate some of that brain power more productively.

Shit is weird. I’m still not really feeling a sense of relief/excitement yet. It could be because I’ve been awake for 24 hours straight and delirium is beginning to set in. So. That being said, I’m going to stop thinking about anything remotely intellectual.

“Pretty Little Mamas” is now a show that is on TV. That’s messed up, right?

Oh, dammit. I still have to lock in my travel medical insurance. Be back later.