Trust the Journey

This space I’m in at the moment feels amazing. I’m writing this post from the plane to a long weekend in Porto, Portugal. Every single time I fly, I love it. I’ve never, ever had any fear of flying. When there is so much terror going on, so many planes gone missing or had to have emergency landing, when there are so many stories and shows around plane crashes, you’d think I would be scared of flying. But no, not at all. I’ve flown all my life, ever since I was 18 months old thanks to my parents who vacationed in Spain on a yearly basis. My favorite part of flying, is take off.

The moment when you feel the plane catching the speed in order to reach the sky, gives me a sense that I’m actually flying. The moment when your seat goes back a notch because of the speed and ascending of the plane. It’s weird, isn’t it? Flying is the best feeling ever. I don’t care for the waiting part, though I do like the airports.

Also when you’re forced to be offline, you actually get things done. There is no distraction to check social media, to watch a Youtube video, to do for something else. But you’re forced to sit down and do nothing but write. Surely, I could just look outside the small oval shape window, I could attempt to sleep or just listen to music and read. Good writers don’t wait for inspiration to come, they take the time to write. This goes for any aspect of your life, especially on the more creative side.

Photo by Audrey Larin

This trip is long waited as I haven’t gone on vacation for a long time. I haven’t gotten outside of my own comfort zone in a long time. I’ve found the current comfort zone and stayed in it. The troublewith that is, you don’t continue your growth if you stick to the same thing, day in day out.

I have had my anxieties in check upon realizing what has been the root cause of it. However, it tends to kick in when I’m not in my comfort zone. This is actually the very first journey completely on my own to a completely new destination, where I haven’t been before. It started with packing, it’s the least favorite thing to do and I always leave it till the last minute, for that exact reason. Today was no different; this morning I woke up, without having even taken out my luggage I planned to take with me. Laundry still drying on the rack from three days ago. I could have done something but I chose to leave it till I had to do it. Remember when I talked about procrastinating? I’m a pro. You’d think i have learned my lesson, especially since the anxiety issues.

More than the packing, what’s causing anxiety on this journey is the fact that I’m a little unsure as to where I will be spending the night. You see, I’m flying to Lisbon but I need to catch the very last train to Porto. From the moment the plane lands to the moment the train leaves, I have exactly 49 minutes. Thankfully I don’t have any checked in luggage but only a carryon and my purse. It’s a calculated risk I’m taking but I know I’ll be alright. The nerves are just at their highest but I’ve been through worse. It doesn’t help that I’m in a new environment as a single woman in the middle of the night, I need to be very careful where I wonder off to. Then again, I only plan on finding a taxi, rushing to the translation, getting my ticket and getting on the train. The ride takes 3 hours till I’m in Porto. From there I will hop on another taxi to find where my sister lives.

Photo by Josh Nezon

It’s not like this country is criminal, it’d be such a different story if I’d be going to Venezuela, Morocco or Iraq. My senses will be on alert mode and I’ll hold tightly onto my belongings. I’ve been very fortunate thus far in my life for nothing dangerous to have happened to me, for which I thank the Universe. I know I have guidance from the other side and they’re doing their best to smooth my journey. All I have to do, is to trust the journey. It feels exhilarating to go on a completely new adventure. I’m happy to have a miniature family vacation with my sis and parents, it has been over ten years since the last one.

You really need some distance in order to gain a new perspective on life. I’m extremely grateful for this journey, this adventure. I’ve a feeling it’s going to be a good one. Whatever is on its way to me, I’ll accept it. There is no need to stress over things you have no control over.

*Featured photo by Sebastian Pichler