Dear Mom and Dad,
After months of planning, budgeting and dreaming together, Josh and I have decided to follow our passion to travel. Together we have decided that experiencing different cultures and living is more important to us for the next year than climbing the corporate ladder. So, I am asking you both to support us as we quit our jobs and travel the world.
Mom – I know what you are thinking….
“The World is a dangerous place, I don’t want anything bad to happen to you”
I am more afraid of pushing my dreams and goals aside to pursue a life that nothing extraordinary happens to me, than to fear the unknown of new countries and cultures. It is more dangerous to continue in my cultural bubble and never let myself get outside my comfort zone than to risk trusting strangers and new rules to life. I know it won’t be easy, and I realize life wont be as clear-cut as my Chicago Apartment in Old Town with our successful jobs, but I know that the unbalance will ground me – the lifestyles I see will humble me – and the adventure will drive me to continue to grow and learn.
I have never been driven by money, and in the past three years I have felt myself become more influenced by the need for more and a drive to continue to reach higher. With this has come a desire for an increased lifestyle – the more you have the more you truly do spend/need. I have found myself surrounded by stuff.. stuff I love.. but just that – A whole lotta stuff.
We are using this as a reset. We will be living on the road for 12 months, carrying all the items that we truly need in one suitcase. We wont have the luxury of TV, kitchen appliances or hot showers all the time. We want to find satisfaction with just being, instead of planning the next big event. We want to go a month without plans instead of filling our calendar with constant activity.
We don’t have specific plans for when we return – if this will become a lifestyle or simply a once in a lifetime experience, but we are open to whatever comes our way in the next year. Thank you for your love and support and don’t worry we will send postcards 🙂
Love,
Caroline and Josh
This is lovely. I hope that they’ve decided to support you on your trip. As ours gets closer I feel a little bit less support, I think they’re thinking “oh crap, they’re serious!” You guys are six months away!! Where are you starting?
We are leaving middle of march 2011 It seems so far away.. but right around the corner at the same time!
We want you to know that we support you and will be praying for you every step of the way. We love you very much.