As our departure date draws closer, I’m finding myself caught swinging between emotions. One day I’m counting down sleeps, manically making to-do lists and cramming in Spanish study; the next I’m panicking about the people and the job and the place that I’m leaving in order to go on this adventure.

The thing is, I’ll be leaving behind a life that I actually quite like. A lovely flat in a nice area; friends and family that inspire and motivate me and a job that’s in an industry that I love. When I went for my current position, I thought it was a real long shot and that I didn’t have a hope in hell of being successful – so you can imagine my elation when I got it. Some days I worry that I’ll regret leaving such an amazing workplace and that I’ll run out of money overseas and that I’ll never get another position that I love as much.

And then I remind myself to just breathe, because the rantings of my mind are beginning to sound like those of a crazy person.

Don’t be afraid to give up the good and go for the great.
– Steve Prefontaine

Making a big life change is scary, but you know what’s even scarier? Regret. And I know that I’ll have a thousand ‘what if’s’ bobbing around in my mind for years to come if I don’t take this leap of faith.

A few of the people I’ll miss the most

One thing I do love is how it’s all coming together. Booking our first few nights’ accommodation in Rio, hitting my savings goal, giving half my clothes to the salvation army and handing in my notice at the gym. They may not seem like big things; but each one represents a tiny step towards the direction of our adventure. I can’t wait to step out into the unknown; to swim in the Atlantic off Ipanema Beach, to hear the thunder of the Iguazu Falls, to hike into the foothills of the Andes.

With six weeks till we fly, I’m cramming in regular catch-ups with everybody I love as much as possible; trying to stock up on conversations and memories and happy times so that I can call on them whenever I’m homesick on the road.