Adventure is Calling. Should I Answer?

This week I booked my first travel adventure since the covid pandemic and was surprised by how planning this trip has made me feel. 

It started when I had to make a decision about upcoming time off I submitted for approval earlier this year, back when there was great momentum in vaccinations and before Delta. Feelings of hope and optimism motivated me to secure about three weeks off for the end of the year. And now I had to make a call as to what I would do with the time off.

Vacationing around Christmas has become a bit of a go-to for me. It’s typically the slowest time for advertising unless you’re specifically working on a project for January (like when I worked on stuff for the 2015 Sundance Film Festival) or February (ie the Super Bowl). Not to mention New Year’s Eve abroad rocks! (See exhibit A from NYE 2019 in Hội An) 

Part of me wanted to just scrap it, stay in Richmond and work. That part of me had grown used to the disappointment of life during lockdowns and quarantines. That part of me saw value in seeing a bank account grow but couldn’t remember the value of investing in travel for personal growth. That part of me feared risk and potential discomforts. This part of me was terrifying because it didn’t feel like me at all.

Part of me craved adventure, once I put my mind to it I could figure it out. That part of me had been couped up too long and was ready to explore again. That part of me could remember how travel makes me feel like the best version of myself. That part of me felt confident that with some research, planning, and expectation setting I could find the right destination to get back out there. This part of me won.

So I booked flights to Ecuador.

And less than 24 hours after booking I almost canceled.

It had been a long time since I had to plan a trip and I got spooked when I found out the bus company I was planning to use to get around was not operating because of low demand due to covid. I panicked.  

But then I reminded myself that I figured out how to travel around Asia for a month by myself and I’m going to figure this out too. I just need to stay calm, do my homework, and take it one step at a time.

As long as the world doesn’t shut down completely again, I’m going to Ecuador!