The Greatest Thing I Did This Year

It might sound cliche, but if I learned anything this year, it's that facing your fears and stepping outside of your comfort zone is among the best things you can do for yourself.

If we rewind back to 2018, I was still in a 5 year relationship with my high school sweet heart. I had been working full time since graduating high school and going to college at an accelerated pace, year round for four years. I had spent very little time on hobbies during those 4 years and was in a comfortable routine. But as it began to set in, that I was in grad school, no longer taking classes at an insane pace while working, I started to get antsy and yearn for new adventures.

I was sick of feeling like I wasn't moving toward reaching my life goals and dreams. So, as I sat in the living room with my family on Christmas Eve, I decided to register for an All Womens Backpacking trip in the Superstitions Mountains, Arizona, that started January 3rd. I had never been to Arizona, I had never been backpacking, and I had never truly traveled alone to a destination where I knew no one. It was one of the boldest decisions I had ever made, and I was terrified. On the day I arrived in Arizona I highly considered taking the financial loss and heading home, I was so scared I wouldn't be able to handle carrying everything on my back and camping for 3 days.

But, I knew no matter how bad it was, it wouldn't be as bad as the disappointment I'd feel in myself if I didn't follow through. So, I woke up the next morning and headed to the mountains with a group of women I had just met. And despite my fears, it ended up being one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was so empowered at the end of our trip. I conquered so many fears, I traveled alone, made new friends, and backpacked for 3 days, carrying everything on my back while hiking 6-8 miles a day. All things I honestly would have never thought I'd say I've done if you asked me a year prior.

Pictured: Me at the end of the 3 day backpacking trip in the Superstitions Mountains

This experience changed my mind set. I started trying so many new things, including new foods and hobbies. And ultimately, it led me to push myself further. Fast forward to the end of June 2019, when I received a text from my father, with a link to a remote work travel program. This was something I didn't know existed, but it was a game changer. Pretty shortly there after, I found myself booking another spontaneous trip but this time it was out of the country to Lisbon, Portugal. And ultimately provided me with one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

I know that if I had never taken that leap and gone on that backpacking trip, there would have been no chance I'd suddenly decide to go travel to a different country by myself and meet up with a group of people I'd never met. BUT, I did go on that trip to Arizona and I did choose to live in Portugal for 2 weeks. And those experiences changed my life. I had broken out of this little safe box I had created for myself and it felt amazing.

So, when I think back on this past year. I know I've done a number of amazing things for myself, but they all seem to fall under one simple bucket: stepping outside of my comfort zone and challenging myself to push past my fears.

I'd like to challenge anyone reading this to do the same. You truly don't know how many great things you can do until you push yourself to do them. It might be terrifying, but I assure you, in my experience it was well worth it.

Pictured: Me in Lisbon during a sunset cruise on my last night in Portugal.