Moving to South Africa
Just a little while back it became apparent to me that I wanted to make a drastic change in my life. Propelled by the feeling that I wasn’t living life from my heart and by the longing to live an authentic life, however that may look like, I decided that moving to South Africa indefinitely was the right choice to make. I had lived there briefly as a 20-year-old and I was now longing to go back. Let’s just say, it didn’t motivate me any less that I had recently reconnected with an ex of mine that lived in KwaZulu-Natal, an Eastern province of South Africa.
Said and done, I quit my job, terminated my contract for my apartment and soon found myself with both feet on Durban soil. How surreal?! The plan was to move to South Africa, live in the countryside of KwaZulu-Natal, write a second bachelor thesis, learn how to farm, love and be loved deeply. Not an overly complicated plan if you ask me, but oh what joy! The months leading up to my departure I was practically dancing through the mundane everyday life, just dreaming about my upcoming adventure. But plans seldom go accordingly, and neither did mine. Three days into my great journey, I get rejected.
Needless to say is that any and every picture of what I imagined this trip would be, was effectively washed down the drain. So, now what? I am brokenhearted, a whole world away from home, the disappointment and shame ravaging my mind.
In a way it changes everything and yet nothing. I am still here. I still have undefined amounts of time to do whatever I want with… how often does it even happen that as a grown up, we have total freedom over our time?
No. I need to sit with this for a while now. Process, accept and release. Hopefully the universe has other plans for me. But for now I am just going to sit with all of the feelings.
Needless to say is that any and every picture of what I imagined this trip would be, was effectively washed down the drain. So, now what? I am brokenhearted, a whole world away from home, the disappointment and shame ravaging my mind.
In a way it changes everything and yet nothing. I am still here. I still have undefined amounts of time to do whatever I want with… how often does it even happen that as a grown up, we have total freedom over our time?
No. I need to sit with this for a while now. Process, accept and release. Hopefully the universe has other plans for me. But for now I am just going to sit with all of the feelings.
Drastic Life Changes: 4 Solo Travel Tips
1. Embrace Uncertainty: Accept that not everything will go as planned. Embrace the unknown and see it as an opportunity for joy and adventure to come into your life.
2. Trust your gut: also, when you feel an instant YES in your whole being, follow it. Intuition and gut feeling is not only to warn us but to guide us.
3. Learn from Setbacks: Instead of dwelling on setbacks, decide to learn something. Use it as fuel to grow, align and thrive in your new reality. We can make meaning out of everything.
4. Define your why: Before and during your solo traveling, try to define your why – your reason for wanting to do this journey. If all your travel plans suddenly go up in flames, you have your purpose to ground you. Finding purpose and meaning in your journey will keep you motivated and resilient.
5 thoughts on “Traveling solo: initial setbacks and disappointments”
Such a beautiful and raw blog. I cant wait for more!❤️
Aww thank you so much! Can’t wait to share this journey with you!
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