Away From Home For The First Time

Your first big trip away from home can be one of the scariest things you do. It’s an excited scary, not a horrid scary though. The planning beforehand is so much fun and then all of a sudden you are actually doing it. The days leading up to it are exciting. They can cause nerves, but it is totally normal. When I left for eight months of travelling back in 2016 I was so excited but as soon as I was on the plane I couldn’t even eat the food (and I’m a foodie, it’s saying something). When I landed into Bangkok I had my first and only panic attack I have ever had in my life. The only thing I could picture was leaving my mum at the airport, that time when she says, “oh one last hug”. That pulls on the heart strings the most like no other feeling. That ache you feel in your stomach that you just can’t shake. It’s all normal, totally normal. You can be as planned or as spontaneous as you like but for one reason alone you will feel excited, scared, nervous, happy, free all at the same time. This is because you are human. It’s only natural to have ten thousand thoughts and emotions running around your body all in one go. It’s what you do to settle the not so good ones which will affect your travels. Perhaps this may be planning your first few nights’ accommodation; knowing you are going to be comfortable while you are tired from any jetlag and feeling a little vulnerable. Perhaps it’s making sure you have transportation when you land; to again know you are protected and taken care of when you are in that post-airplane mindset. Perhaps it may be travelling with someone, a partner or a friend, or a group you don’t even know. Joining a tour will help you to know you aren’t going to have to have any hassle to deal with by yourself. Travel in the style which is going to suit you best. Which style or small things are going to make you feel your best? And your most comfortable. If you don’t feel your best, you aren’t going to enjoy it. Lean into the feelings and don’t shy away from them. Share them with other travellers; because I can guarantee you they are going to have felt the same, either now, or they have done in the past. They will support you don’t worry about that. And don’t try be all ‘macho man’ about it either. It’s better to let any feelings out, then you can make room for the good emotions. Once they are with you, you can enjoy the rest of your time away. Enjoy every small moment. Remember that you only live once, and you may not get the opportunity to go away again, so you may as well grab it and enjoy every single second.