Your Permission Slip
Welcome back, babes!
This week's topic is inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's incredible book, Big Magic, which I highly encourage you to read if you haven't already. In it, she provides what she calls a permission slip to live creatively and express our innate creativity freely.
Today I'm going to give you the travel version of that permission slip.
Society (American societal norms especially) tells us that we should settle down immediately after university - get a serious nine to five career, buy a house, and only travel for the two weeks a year that we have PTO, allowing us to pay the mortgage and climb the corporate ladder.
And you know what? If that sounds appealing to you, then by all means, follow that path.
Because the true essence of the permission slip I'm granting you today is to live life on your terms… so if that's the traditional US way of life, then cheers to you pursuing that.
But if you, like me, feel called to a different way of life, I'm here to tell you that we are not crazy nor are we alone.
I've learned in my travels that the American idea of work life balance is laughable. It’s genuinely hard to fathom for citizens of many other countries where one month annual paid vacation time is the bare minimum, not something you earn in exchange for decades of work with the same company.
If deep down (or really on any level), you feel inspired to see the rest of the world beyond one week per year, desiring to experience other cultures and lifestyles as a traveler instead of just a tourist, then do it… make it happen and be fearless in chasing that dream - no matter how unorthodox the path may seem to others.
I am living proof that despite what your family or the grind culture of the US may tell you, the world will not end and your life will not be ruined because you chose not to prioritize a promotion, a pension, or a property in your 20s (or even beyond)…
Your happiness and fulfillment will never be dictated by social status and professional or monetary success, even though Western hustle ideology says otherwise.
The money will always return, but your youth and your time will not… so live the life you dream about now - don't save any of it for retirement or some ideal someday (that probably doesn't exist).
Your time on Earth is not guaranteed - so the only fear you should have is reaching the end, whenever that may be, and realizing that you didn't live this precious life to the fullest or on your own terms.
xoxo - kell
