Here's what you have to say...
"I respond to every comment by private email. So please leave me comments, I love chatting to you" - Josh Bender
Posted by
Alyson
on
Oct 14th, 2013
Spot on Erin! I would add, don't be afraid to fail, there is no failure if you give something a go, try it for size, see if it fits.
Posted by
Rhiannon
on
Oct 14th, 2013
Great! Lovely blog! Proud of you sis! You inspire me in the best of ways!
Posted by
Anna
on
Oct 14th, 2013
I completely agree with this. People tell me all of the time they "wish" they could travel like me and I always tell them that they can. Then they list a bunch of excuses. I personally used to have rent, a car, bills and all of that but traveling made me more happy than my 9-5 life so I sold my car, ended my lease and found work I can do remotely. It all depends what is most important to you and the courage to risk failing.
I love the JK Rowling quote: “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.”
Posted by
Helen
on
Oct 14th, 2013
Love this!
Posted by
Heidi Wagoner
on
Oct 14th, 2013
Ta Da! You got it girl! That is exactly right, no matter if it is travel or any thing you desire to do. Live it, breath it, want it, be it. You need to focus on your passions to make them come true. "things" are anchors that can weigh us all down and lead to getting more "things". Nicely done Erin.
Posted by
Kimmy @ AfterGlobe
on
Oct 14th, 2013
Well said! Whenever I talk to others about what Drew and I are doing they always say they wish they could do it. When I ask them what's stopping them they have a big list of excuses. I point out that they are all excuses, but they have to figure that out on their own to really see that they are the only thing stopping themselves from their dreams.
Posted by
Jess
on
Oct 14th, 2013
I think people want to hear that there's some sort of magic secret that people who travel have all figured out. That would be nice - but really, it's about deciding what's important to you. Of course some people will have more opportunities then others, but that doesn't mean that 'I have a life' is a total excuse.
Posted by
Catherine Forest
on
Oct 14th, 2013
I love this post, Erin! We always need to be reminded about that. Thanks for that!
Posted by
Karin
on
Oct 14th, 2013
Beautifully said Erin so proud of you. I realise that if you have excuses you really aren't called to it. We all need to find our true passions. Love you to bits
Posted by
Sheralyn
on
Oct 14th, 2013
Very well put - it's so true. Most people could do it, I think they are just too scared to try and fail.
Posted by
Julie
on
Oct 15th, 2013
Such a good read, inspiring and leaves your thinking, stirs my soul.
We must not let anyone put out our passion, passion allows us to push through fear and the what ifs. When are you going to publish your book ? I'll buy it...Kindle app please :)
Posted by
Mrs. Chasing the Donkey
on
Oct 18th, 2013
What a brilliant post! I get emails weekly from people saying how they wish they could do what we did (move abroad) and I tell them they can, and just wonder how they can't see that.
I love your line, I may borrow that one.
I;m curious to know, how your conversation effected him. What he thought afterwards - maybe he is packing his bags now and about to head off in his own adventure?
Posted by
Mary Hickcox
on
Oct 22nd, 2013
Great post Erin and I couldn't agree more. We are the only thig in the way of what we want. Everything else is just an excuse! People always tell us how lucky we are or they wish they could do it too. I just chuckle inside and tell them we are't extraordinary, if you want it go get it BUT its not easy or lucky. Its hard work starting with accepting you are the problem and taking the leap!
Posted by
Amy
on
Oct 23rd, 2013
I love this; lately I've been struggling with trying to explain these exact thoughts to relatives who flew out to visit us in Thailand. They just can't grasp why we'd want to give up all the 'security' of a steady job back in England to travel indefinitely. I think there comes a point when you just have to say: "I know why I'm doing this, if no-one else understands, then so be it."
Posted by
JulieK
on
Nov 2nd, 2013
I agree with you. But what do you do when your hubby has a very stationary job and doesn't have an risk-taking personality? I'd love to sell it all and drive around in an RV or something but... he would not. So we're trying to find a happy medium of traveling as much as we can during his vacations. (he's a teacher - switching jobs is actually rather hard these days b/c nobody wants to hire an 18 year veteran teacher so switching schools can be risky).
Curious about your thoughts on how to travel on a budget AND keep your house/car! :)
Posted by
admin
on
Nov 3rd, 2013
So great to hear from you all. I have messaged you all privately with my answers to your questions and will be doing a followup post soon, specially in answer to your questions JulieK. Thank you for writing & reading!
Posted by
Karla
on
Nov 5th, 2013
Wow, what a great story.
You were meant to enlighten this person and make him realize that he was stopping himself or finding excuses and not really live his dreams!
In this society, security is what everyone is running after even though it does not exist. Accumulating stuff is not a safety net is it?
I too find it hard to explain the reason why I love traveling so much! My family & friends still can't understand why I won't be chained to a desk or tied to a house or a car like they are!
I prefer being out there wandering around in the world and truly live life to the max and feeling fulfilled.
Congratulations for doing what you love and bringing your family along for the ride!
Posted by
Boot
on
Nov 11th, 2013
Love it!! Love the Helen Keller quote so much it is now my cover page on Facebook. I travel as often as I can...next step selling my house and traveling more!! Loved meeting you and your family in Belize and meeting up again in New Orleans (even though I was a bit under the weather). Hope to catch up to you soon!! Australia when you finally get back home....
Posted by
Beth
on
Feb 9th, 2014
I completely agree! I've encountered similar situations of people telling me they wish they could travel like I do. Whenever I tell them they can, they just string together a long chain of excuses. The only thing stopping you is you, indeed!
Posted by
Jenna
on
Feb 9th, 2014
Well said! Such a great post. It's so true--don't wait for things to be perfect because that day will never come. Just get out and find a way to follow your dreams. Life is too short. So glad you are following your dreams!
Posted by
Marysia @ My Travel Affairs
on
Feb 10th, 2014
I always go for optimism and solutions :)
Posted by
Ron | Active Planet Travels
on
Feb 10th, 2014
I get the same question all of the time too. Soemtimes, it just takes time for people to open up and realize that it is indeed THEM that is stopping them from fulfilling their dreams. Not their mortgage, rent, vehicles, loans or anything else. I see you handled the situation well though! Can't wait to meet up at the next TBEX conference! ;-)
Posted by
Bret @ GGT
on
Feb 11th, 2014
It's a great fantasy that everyone can have this nomadic life, but it's just not reality for 90+% of the human population. And for a lot of people it has nothing to do with fear or reluctance or a lack of wherewithal, but circumstance. For instance, I'm the divorced father of a 12-year-old daughter who needs me. I have 50/50 custody. I can't just leave and abandon my responsibility to her, even if I wanted to. Other people have pensions they've invested 10-15 years into building up, and will lose them if they travel full-time. There are lots of reasons why people don't travel as much as they'd like to, and this notion that anyone can do it is really hogwash.
Posted by
Erin
on
Feb 11th, 2014
Thanks again everyone.
@Bret - I totally agree with you. Nomadic travel isn't for everyone and I think the post says that very clear. It's about whatever your dream is to chase it down - travel or other.
"If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost
For in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will
It’s all in the state of mind....
Life’s battles don’t always go
to the stronger or faster man (woman)
But soon or late the one who wins
is the one who thinks they can!”
Posted by
Megan Claire
on
Feb 12th, 2014
Thankyou for writing this post - I think the majority of people don't realize they are holding themselves back and the only thing they need to do is decide to go! Decide to make the plunge - believe in yourself and you're halfway there!!
Posted by
Josie
on
Jun 2nd, 2014
This is a valuable subject Erin. Sometimes the first step is indeed the hardest!
Wishing you safe and happy travels,
Josie
Posted by
Julian
on
Dec 2nd, 2014
You are absolutely right! Our own minds, fears, and convention limit our dreams being fulfilled. After working in a corporate world for 35 years, we left "safety" at the ages 53/52 and have spent the past 6 years owning and managing a holiday resort on an island in Thailand. My motto in life is that one has to make it happen, it won't happen on it's own. And when asked why we did it, my reply is the same quote you used "you only live once".
But I found an addition to that quote that suits this blog perfectly: "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!" Mae West. Wonderful! If you're contemplating, "just do it!".
Posted by
Carrie Thornton
on
Feb 13th, 2015
This is so great and has stirred me. We want to go on more holidays but are so afraid of something bad happening to our kids or our kids getting sick. We need to work on letting go of our fears!
Posted by
Lindsay Nieminen
on
Jul 7th, 2015
thanks for forwarding this link to me! It's what I need to hear! Not the nay-Sayers, not the people who say "why" those who say GO FOR IT! For my Taylor Swifts's line "today is a new day / to be brand new" resonates with me over and over. I know I can do it. Soon!
Posted by
Rachel Louise Sadler
on
Feb 13th, 2016
Brilliant post! Its easy to put excuses in the way!
Posted by
Alexandra Wilson
on
Feb 13th, 2016
Great post!
Posted by
JetSetting Fools
on
Feb 13th, 2016
Posted by
Sarah Hopa
on
Feb 13th, 2016
Love this. Thanks Erin :)
Posted by
Karen Dixon
on
Sep 19th, 2017
Curious where the Benders are in 2017 and what they will do in 2018 :) Kids must be travel experts by now as well!