I really believe in my trip. The idea to do this bike trip through Europe and Africa started to crystallize already around two years ago, building an unstoppable momentum, and occupying more and more of my thoughts over this last year. The trip has become my dream. I really do think it will change me, help me learn and grow, and come out a more experienced, confident, and wiser person on the other side. And I really think I can make a positive impact with my trip, through partnering with organizations, clinics, and companies all aiming to improve accessibility, inclusion, and well-being for people with disabilities through the regions I will be traveling, and doing what I can to support their work through my ride. I think the trip will help me define my path and discover what I can give back to the world to best live up to my potential, and will be a catalyst to understanding and accepting who I am, and growing into who I want to be. I really believe in my trip.
But, over the last few months I have also had to confront a variety of important and challenging questions as the trip gets closer and becomes more of a real plan rather than an idealistic dream. Tumultuous times in my own personal life have made me start to feel more doubts related to the trip and struggle to justify why I’m doing it both to others and even to myself. Questions tumble about in my mind, having no easy answers. Am I actually using the trip as an immature way to run away from my responsibilities? Am I being irresponsible and unfair to the people I love, and who love me, in throwing myself into an adventure I know will be dangerous and risky? Will I really find what I’m looking for and actually make a positive impact through this trip, or I am being immature and naïve in thinking that I can find my path and contribute to empowering the lives of people with disabilities just by riding my bike a long ways? Will I actually connect with people along the way? Am I stubbornly pursuing an idealistic vision that in reality will isolate me from my relationships, put me in danger, and will just set me back on my path rather than propel me forward? Am I biting off more than I can chew?
I’m 26 years old now, and I’m planning to start my biking journey on my 27th birthday. This feels like the period of life where decisions become more impactful, influencing the trajectory of the rest of my life. And honestly, I can’t say for sure if the decision to go on this trip is a right one. But, I still believe in my trip… and I’m still going.
All of this is to say that there are benefits and drawbacks, challenges, doubts, unanswered questions, and conflicted feelings to any life path that we may choose. And that’s no different when choosing to go off on an adventure. I don’t want this site to be a shallow travel inspiration page that presents only the positive experiences of adventure and travel. I want to share, personally and honestly, all of the aspects of this trip, the doubts and uncertainties, and my honest feelings and struggles in the lead up and throughout my big trip.
If I can make all of this philosophical rambling into some kind of take-home message (but honestly don’t take my advice too seriously, because if there’s one thing this post should make clear it’s that I certainly don’t have things figured out), it’s that going off on a big, ambitious, and life-changing adventure is one way to live life, but it’s definitely not the only way. I hope that I’ll find what I’m looking for, and learn and grow in the ways that I need to through my trip; but I don’t think it’s what everyone needs. I think perhaps the most important thing is to be doing something that you believe in and to be forging a path that feels right to you. I want to trust and believe that if you’re doing that, the rest of the pieces will fall into place.
