I don't have a lot but...
The other day a friend of mine sent me a message: ‘How’s the solo travelling going? I’d love to do something similar one day but I’d really like to know how you’re affording to do it?’
I sent her a voice note explaining that the only way I’ve been able to afford it is by getting rid of the UK apartment I’d been renting, so I can use the money I would have been spending on rent and bills on AirBnbs.
I also told her that I’d got rid of all my things so all of my worldly goods now fit into a suitcase.
‘I don’t have a lot,’ I said. ‘But I’m having a lot of fun.’
And as I said the line out loud I felt a burst of happiness because it so perfectly sums up how I’ve been feeling these past couple of months.
I don’t have a lot of spare cash. And I certainly don’t have a lot of possessions. But boy have I created a lot of happy memories in my time here in France.
And in a couple of days’ time I’ll be moving on to America for five weeks, which is really exciting because it was while I was in America back in February that I decided to embrace a life of solo travel.
I’d gone to a town I’d never been to before for a month as a kind of experiment. I wanted to know if I had what it took to rock up somewhere I’d never been before and where I knew no-one. I wanted to know if I’d find it stressful, or if I’d find it fun.
The experiment was a huge success and I made some wonderful new friends, who I can’t wait to see again!
And now I’ve done the same thing in France. I’m leaving here with a mind full of happy memories and a heart full of wonderful new friends.
In some ways I’ve never had less in my life. I don’t even have a home right now! Several years ago I probably would have found this notion terrifying. But now, having done it, I can tell you it’s so liberating.
We live in a culture that’s constantly telling us how much stuff we need in order to be happy.
When I was getting rid of all my things recently it turned into such an interesting experiment. Kind of like when people ask you what you’d save in the event of a house fire.
I ‘saved’ a case full of treasures to store in my mum’s loft, and if I had the contents valued financially they wouldn’t be worth a thing.
Photographs, letters, and other mementos from happy days with people I love.
That’s what it all came down to in the end.
For me, the only thing worth saving, having and treasuring is love.
I don’t have a lot, but I’m having a lot of fun, and feeling a lot of love.
I shall leave you with that thought, and I hope you find it inspiring.
Until next week, thank you for making this such a fun and loving community, I so enjoy reading your replies and comments!
Siobhan