Have you ever been traveling and had a wonderful moment of clarity? Maybe you finally felt like you could relax and take a deep breath. Did seeing how others lived their day-to-day lives have an impact on you?
Have you climbed a tall mountain to see God’s masterpiece? That in return brought your life into perspective. I would like to walk you down my path of how I learned to beat mom overwhelm through travel.
Life Before Motherhood
I can count on one hand how many big trips we took in my childhood. You know the ones that require a flight, a cruise, or a long roadtrip even. I believe I was twelve before I ever flew on a plane.
Don’t get me wrong, I had some wonderful vacations growing up. Most taking place on beautiful wide beaches. North Carolina really has all you can ask for; mountains, lakes, and beaches. You don’t need to even leave the state. My intention is just to say that I didn’t grow up traveling the world. This is something I have grow into over the years.
In college, I started visiting the Caribbean islands on spring and summer breaks. I started getting a taste for bigger trips that I was responsible for booking and executing. I realized how excited I became to plan and explore the world. I even thought I was destined to live in New York or Los Angles.
That thought process took a big turn after graduation. I spent two weeks in Europe, and don’t get me wrong it was amazing. However, I realized that I personally wanted to have roots and wings. I love to travel, but I didn’t want to do it 100% of the time. Nor did I want to live in a different state away from my family, friends, or boyfriend (soon to be husband).
I settled down in North Carolina with comfort knowing I had made the right decision. I started a family and grew deeper roots.
Pivotal Moment
When my daughter was about six months old my company started requesting for me to travel more. Though I loved the idea of getting more trips under my belt. I honestly didn’t know if I was capable of leaving her.
I was devoting every extra moment I had to her. I was already carrying the guilt of being a working mom. The thought of flying across the ocean and missing five days with her felt unbearable. Even if my destination was Paris, of all places.
Anxiety can be so cruel! I had a certain scene from the thriller Final Destination playing over and over in my head. I think you know the one, uggh!
Luckily, my husband gave me the push I needed, and I went and got on the plane. I was amazed at the breath of fresh air that hit me after a few days.
Once I let my mom guilt go and took a deep breath, I remembered I was someone else besides just a wife, mom, and employee. I had my own set of needs and desires. Although, I would gladly put them all aside for my little one (and had for the last six months) it was ok to take a beat for myself every once in a while.
Travel Helps Me Beat Mom Overwhelm
What tends to happen is that our day-to-day pulls us in so tightly that we forget how vast the world really is. Seeing other peoples day-to-day, their culture, their views, opens your mind to appreciate that you’re only a part of the worlds vast ecosystem. While simultaneously, giving you an appreciation for everything you do have.
I returned back home a better more attentive momma. My needs and sleep quota had been met, and I was in return able to give a better version of myself to my sweet little girl and her daddy.
Action
Well, it was done. I was hooked. I knew that I needed to invite more of this ME time into my life. Travel was my form of therapy and in order to be the best version of myself I needed to make it a priority.
For many years, this continued through work travel. It was all I had time for. I became the master of making the most of my time while off on a work trip. I would jump in and get my work done as efficiently as possible, and then take off to squeeze in a little bit of adventure.
I became very efficient in seeing a whole city in a day. A skill that I still obtain. Which is why you will see multiple cities or park destinations on one of my trips. My time is still limited. As a busy mom, I’m only able to take a few trips a year, and I make it a point to see as much as possible in that short time span.
Reflection
When you have a busy goal oriented brain, it is hard to shut it off at times. Between family and work I can easily become overwhelmed. Travel and new experiences allow my brain to relax and take a deep breath. When I travel I often have a notebook handy because my best ideas hit while I’m traveling.
As innovation manager, it use to be ideas for my company. Now it leans more to clarity in my life and for my own business.
Being a driven person is a wonderful thing, however, often times it can get in the way of the most important aspects of life. I left my corporate job for many reasons, but one of the most important reasons was because I wanted to pour more time into our children. It is so easy to replace one stressor with another if we don’t keep it in check.
Takeaway
Travel allows me to take a step back, relax, and make course corrections.
What can a trip do for you? Have you taken a trip without your children in a while? Family vacations are the best, but sometimes you need a vacation from your children. Not in a harsh way, but to fill your own tank up so you can have a moment of clarity. You have to put your oxygen mask on first right?
So if you are thinking, yeah that all sounds great Katie, but I don’t even know where to start. The time and energy it would take to plan a trip is just too much right now. Well I invite you to download this worksheet and answer…
6 Key Decisions to Quickly Get Your Next Trip Booked
Once you have made these 6 key decisions, are you feeling that pull? Do you feel like you could really make this dream a reality? Well, sweet friend, you can and you will! Hang in there and take it a step at a time, and I will be by your side helping you along the way.
Until next time.
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