When I decided to quit my job to travel the world, I constantly got questions about dealing with guilt. I’m an only child who only has her mother and grandmother here in Virginia. It’s always been the three of us, so hearing my family’s opinion matters most to me. Unfortunately for me, my grandmother didn’t see travel as a long-term hobby which caused conversations about finances, stability, and aging. It hurts knowing that my family doesn’t see travel the way that I do but I never let that be a factor in whether I should travel. I felt guilty for desiring to be so far away finding temporary places to call home. I love my family but I also love travel just as much as I love them. I might sound selfish or unappreciative but to those who have a passion for travel, you will know that travel is a part of YOU. Travel is a form of self-care among other healthy things that help me appreciate my life. My family wants what’s best for me and has a valid reason to express their opinion. In the beginning, I tailored my trips and future of traveling to accommodate my family but over time I was not satisfied and wanted to travel the way my heart longed for.
Aren’t You Afraid Of Missing Out On Time With Older Family Members If You Travel Long?
The short answer to this is OF COURSE! If I could clone my body and keep it here with my family I would! I love my mom and grandma and it makes me sad that anytime away from them I’ll never get back. I struggled with this at the beginning of my journey through Southeast Asia. My grandma was at home aiding my mother who battles with MS. Why wasn’t I home to lessen the stress for both of them? I felt like a shitty person to choose travel over the other things that meant the most to me but I never could find balance. When I finally had the balls to plan my big trip I had to continuously remind myself that traveling isn’t robbing them of me. I was robbing myself. I will always strive to make my family happy but I have to take care of myself first to better help them. Mentally and emotionally I needed to travel to relieve the feeling of being locked in. I felt like a shell of myself showing up for others but never for myself. It took therapy for me to begin living for myself and not carrying the guilt of my passion. We are individuals who are given one life to live and once we realize that we’re not living life for others but for ourselves we can truly indulge in the things we love.
To help ease the concern of my family, I let them be a part of the planning although they didn’t have any desire to be involved. I contacted them every day informing them of my safety and what I did throughout the day. I made them a part of my trip and shared my love of what I was experiencing so they could see what travel brought out of me. They kept up with me as I frequently navigated foreign cities, and they became more accepting of the life I chose to live. My family became eager to hear from me as I told stories of my random encounters or the sketchy street food I ate that I didn’t know how to pronounce. With time came acceptance. Acceptance of knowing that travel isn’t a lazy side of myself that just needs a vacation but a lifestyle that will never die within me.
How To Handle Travel Guilt
Here are some tips that might help ease your travel guilt. Take heed that not everyone will understand your lifestyle and that’s ok!
- Enjoy The Time That You Do Have: This might sound obvious but we take the time we spend with loved ones for granted. If you have the chance, spend time with family and friends. I recommend documenting everything with photos so when you travel you can look back on these memories.
- Don’t Let People’s Opinions Drive You: Your family can have an opinion about your life but how you live your life is completely up to you!
- Handle Your Finances: With travel comes responsibility. It might seem as though nomads are free of financial burdens but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Make sure to have a realistic plan of how you will handle your expenses before traveling. The last thing that you need is to burden someone else with your financial responsibilities. Another thing that might seem obvious is being realistic with yourself. If your life goals aren’t reflecting long-term travel as something that will be sustainable then take time to rethink if this lifestyle is for you.
- Keep Great Communication: Make sure you’re keeping loved ones updated. Nothing is better than sharing your passion with those that you love. Send photos and make them feel included.
- Live Life For You: Most importantly live your life. Do things that you’ve always wanted to do. Explore the world and be bold.