THIS IS NOT A MIDLIFE CRISIS!!!

The Adventure Begins. #journeytowakanda

Two months ago I made a life-changing decision. In the midst of some significant happenings, I decided to leave the life I had built behind, and walk boldly into my future. My new plan was to “un-plan.” After a well-curated life, with significant time spent setting and achieving goals, I made the decision to spend the year between my 39th and 40th birthday traveling the globe with no plan and no goals.

“No Plans, No Goals” has been the hardest part of this new journey for me. As a stubborn Taurus and a serious Type A personality, I’m used to always working towards a goal. Even after telling myself I wasn’t going to have goals for this trip, I almost immediately started creating goals (“What if I learned something new in each place I went?”). Since this journey is all about taking it easy on myself, I won’t beat myself up if I create a goal or a plan, but I’l also remind myself that I can just be. That relaxation and limiting stress are as good a goal as any.  The theme of the journey is "self-care."  Taking care of myself is my number one priority for the next year.

On a farewell road trip to Tahoe, a couple of my girlfriends commented that this trip was a product of/evidence of a midlife crisis. I firmly told them that this was no crisis - this was a well thought out decision that is not coming from a place of “crisis” but coming from a place of self-care. I like to consider this journey one that will help prevent a mid-life crisis. This is pre-emptive crisis avoidance; this is not a midlife crisis.