“My Life-Changing Journey: Leaving Everything Behind for a Year Abroad”

The truth is, the first half of 2023 has come to an end, and it’s time for reflection and looking ahead. But let me tell you something: time is a matter of perspective. On this very date last year, I handed in my house keys, sold or gave away all my belongings, and embarked on a one-way journey to Central America with just two suitcases and a single ticket. With a friend waving me goodbye at the airport, I was filled with frustration, questions about life, and a sense of wonder about what awaited me. Curious to know how it all turned out? Read on.

Opinions and Assumptions

Before I delve further into my story, it’s important to understand why I felt the need to embark on a new path. Many opinions and assumptions were made about my decision to leave everything behind. Some believed I was running away, searching for greener pastures, or escaping from a sense of loneliness and lack of peace of mind.

While these assumptions may hold some truth, even if they were entirely accurate, what does it matter? Everyone has their own way of dealing with life’s challenges, and there’s no definitive right or wrong. I do believe, however, that there are easier paths to take, but doing the real work is never easy.

Yearning for Adventure

I digress; there is so much to share. The truth is, the previous year, I had written a challenge on a stone: “A year from now, I will be living abroad.” It had always intrigued me to experience life in a different place. Just because I grew up in the Netherlands didn’t mean it had to be my final destination.

Crossroads of Uncertainty

As the year drew to a close, I hadn’t made any arrangements regarding where I would go, what I would do, or what would become of my belongings. I was essentially standing at a crossroads with nothing planned.

Leaving Comfort Zone

My financial situation and the life I had built for myself were actually quite comfortable, giving me no real reason to leave it all behind. That was precisely why I hadn’t taken the leap yet. But come early May of last year, with just two months remaining on my year-long challenge, I made the decision—I was going, and I was going in July. If I didn’t want to end up on the streets with my belongings, I knew I had to do everything in my power to achieve my goal.

Decisive Action, Achieving Goals

I can tell you this: once you’ve made a decision, things start to fall into place. It may sound like a cliché, but it’s true. Suddenly, I began exploring possibilities, questioning myself about what I truly wanted, and taking actions that would lead me closer to my goals. To make a long story short, I booked a one-way ticket to Nicaragua to pursue my passion for surfing, with an open mind about what would come next.

Embracing Nicaragua’s Unknown

I couldn’t even pronounce the name of the country, and I soon discovered that it had recently emerged from a civil war and was one of the poorest nations in Central America. You might think it wasn’t the ideal first step outside the Netherlands. I hadn’t done extensive research about the country, except for the essential things I needed to know. Luckily, sometimes ignorance can be bliss, and remember, it all turns out okay in the end.

I will dedicate future blog posts to delve deeper into this journey, but for now, let’s fast forward. We are a year ahead, and I am no longer in Nicaragua. I write this blog post from Mexico.

Tears of Transformation

When I reflect on the person I was and who I have become, tears well up in my eyes. Why? Because this experience was one I will never forget. I learned things I didn’t even know I needed to learn. There were mind-blowing moments, tears shed, laughter shared, and so much more.

Everyone can offer their opinions and claim to know better, and don’t get me wrong, it’s all well-intentioned. But for me, it was the journey itself—the experience—that ultimately changed my life.

And for that, I am eternally grateful.

Support the Adventure

If you want to stay updated on my progress, support my journey, or seek inspiration for your own adventure, follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok Or Check my Linktree for all my businesses. Together, let’s continue to embrace the unknown and find the path that brings us joy and fulfillment.

Yours, Tati