This year was everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more. We left what we knew and moved across the other side of the earth with nothing but our backpacks and each other. 2015 will be the year I cherish for the rest of my life. And for right now, that journey isn’t over just yet.
The world feels tiny to me now that everywhere is just a plane ride away.
We’ve flown all the way across the world. We’ve been to so many corners of the Earth. And it was so easy? It baffles me. I feel more comfortable on the plane and in transit than I do just staying in one place for too long. I carry everything I own on my back and shoulders, and that feels normal! It’s amazing what the human mind can adapt to in a single year. And I think I will take these life lessons with me for the rest of my life. Especially now that I know anywhere and anything is possible.
I used to feel envious of those who travelled. Especially those whose job it was to travel. One day in Spain, the next in the Philippines and by Monday they could be as far as New York. Photographing and exploring the world effortlessly. I wanted to see the world so badly but it all seemed just out of reach and just too expensive. I would never be one of those girls.
I wasn’t ready to give up. I wanted to see if I could make my own destiny. If I could save and travel like these bloggers were, but of course, I’d be doing it all on my own. No sponsored flights, no accommodation in exchange for advertisement, no perks.
And here we are. We did it. It’s been a year. One year of flying all over the world, being in Europe one night and Asia the next, deciding where to fly to by picking a spot on the map. Feeling like locals when returning to a city we’ve only seen once. And we did it all on a strictly planned budget that we saved for over three years. I proved my fears wrong. My worries that it wasn’t possible, I couldn’t do it, I just couldn’t afford it. We did everything we dreamed of and more, and I got to do it all with my best friend by my side. On my terms.
What this year has shown me is that if I truly want something, I just need to work hard enough to get it. Don’t take no for an answer, don’t listen to others doubts. I really can have any kind of life that I dream of. I’m going to travel every year for the rest of my life. I want to learn so many things about the world and about myself, and I know I can do it now.
After the momentous year I’ve had, the last day seems almost trivial. I used to be so concerned about saying my goodbyes to another year and welcoming a new one. Like the calendar days decided who I was going to be and what I was going to do in the approaching new year. I’d try to make new years resolutions, write my detailed end of year re-cap and worry about saying goodbye to a whole year of me.
I don’t know if it’s because I’ve now travelled so far, seen so much of this world, or simply changed a tremendous amount on the inside. But it just doesn’t matter to anymore. Today is a number on a calendar. Tomorrow the sun will rise the very same that it did today, the wind will blow, the world will turn.
I’m never going to say goodbye to this year, because I’ll take this year with me forever. I know there won’t be a day that will go by where I won’t think of it, draw from it and use something I’ve learned from it.
Yi Lin T
I’m honestly so happy for you! <3 <3 <3
Farrah Dupoux
Congratulations on achieving your dream in 2015. Traveling around the world for a whole year seems so so incredible; you’re definitely inspiring me to step it up and get out of the house more!
2015 wasn’t a good year for me, but hopefully I can find a new job, save up some money, and get to traveling!
Claire Alice Young
Thank you lovely. I’m sorry to hear your 2015 wasn’t all you dreamed it to be. Some years are good ones, and others not so much. I really hope this year brings you lots of new adventure and joy <3
Meg Siobhan
What a gorgeous post, both with your words and pictures. I’ve not had the greatest year, but if I get a new job in the next few months, this post has kind of made me realise that maybe I should start saving – not necessarily for a place, but for money to travel, to see the world, to see what’s out there and just…live.
Thank you.
Claire Alice Young
Thank you Meg <3 I hope you can follow all your dreams this year! Even if it's just small steps towards a greater goal, it will all be so worth it. Sending love xx
Christine
I really like what you wrote about the new year and calendars. Thinking about 2015 and reading all these re-cap posts made ne feel a bit sad. I was struggeling with ilness since Oktober now and so it doesn’t feel like the year I wanted it to be.
But your post made me think about it and in the end it’s just a day and it doesn’t matter that the last weeks weren’t like I expected them to be. Tomorrow the sun will rise and actually all is still the same. Numbers don’t count so much.
Claire Alice Young
Hello lovely! I’m sorry to hear you haven’t been well, I hope you feel much better soon. I’m glad my post helped you feel a little better, I too feel sad trying to re-cap a whole year, especially a year as special as 2015 was for me. But I realised, why do things that make us sad?! It’s so unimportant and not even necessary. I hope these next few months are more blissful for you! x