Here I Go (again on my own)...

Well well well. It is now 3 years since I embarked on my travels around the world and it seems about time for another adventure. Don't you agree?

Quick recap for those who may not know and are minimally interested; after SAS, I graduated, taught preschool for a year, worked on some fantastic sports photography and then somehow got trapped working as an Assistant Store Manager for a certain new age bohemian boutique. What can I say... a fantastic discount and a great team of gals kept me sucked in for longer than I had ever expected and all I was looking for was a way out.

Low an behold I held that power myself. Surprised? Yeah, well besides the fact that I had been at the point where I physically felt dread every day I had to go to work, I also met some random lady that inspired me to kick my butt in gear. She was a customer from South Africa, and when we got to talking I mentioned how I had sailed alongside Archbishop Desmond Tutu and how I went skydiving over her very own Table Top Mountain. We talked about some other adventures of my past and when she was ready to check out she actually thanked me for reminding her that there are still girls in the world ready to take risks and have a little fun in their lives. Well, she left me feeling so conflicted as yes, I had done some amazing things in the past, but at that point I had nothing inspiring to show for the last year.

I came to a bit of self-realization as I started to understand just how unhappy I was. I literally would become embarrassed when strangers asked what I did for a living. I know that there are many girls who would kill for my job for the company I was with, but for me, I choked on the words every time I explained my position.

So what to do? With help from some lovely girlfriends, the idea of 'living in the moment' came into my life. I know many try to keep this phrase alive within themselves, but I feel like I used to fake it a lot. No more in twenty-ten. Seriously. Within 4 days of the new year, I realized I needed to make some changes. Fast.

My amazing friend Kelsey has been working on medical projects in Africa over the last couple of years. When she was home this holiday season I got to know her even better and through everything she has accomplished I found her to be so inspiring. She and a few other nurses were heading back to Kenya to open their second HIV/Aids clinic with Med25 International (check it out...donate!). She mentioned to me that I should come volunteer and with everything in my life I took it as a sign. This was my opportunity for a new start.

Even though it started out as just a suggestion, tossed in somewhere between a heart-to-heart and a bachelor extravaganza on a party bus, it was something that stuck with me in the days to come. Actually it hit me pretty hard. I knew this was the perfect situation to volunteer my time, give back and it gave me comfort to know it was a credible organization.

Fast forward to the present... Well I requested a leave of absence from work, was denied. Put my 2-weeks notice in and now am leaving tomorrow! Why wait? I pushed up my departure from my original plan of March and am doing a quick trip of 6 weeks. I won't have a job when I get back (my steady salary gone!) and I have no idea what to expect. All I know is that I needed a change and here it is.

No one should be stuck hating what they do. I know we all need to make money to survive, but it was so much stress that was so unnecessary.  When I walked out after giving my resignation, I felt so free. It was like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I found my escape from my corner-windowed prison.

Now I am ready for my next challenge. Kenya is just the start. All I know is that I am worth so much more than what I was settling for. Bring it on...