The Beginning

Today's project is to start my travel blog. "Oh but Maddy, you don't leave for a week!" you might say, and you would be correct- well almost.

I googled it, and in fact it is6 days, 18 hours, and 8 minutes until my plane is scheduled to depart. So, it is less than a week.

So why start my travel blog today (apart from 'because screw you, thats why')? Well, because the last few days have been a roller coaster. I have decided that this part is as much a part of the journey as any other part. Aside from the millions of things I have to do before I leave, and all the beautiful friends who want to catch one last glimpse of me, my brain has been on overdrive with emotions and thoughts and feelings about leaving.

Yesterday I was stressed. I was worried that I wouldn't get everything done on time. In reality there really isn't that much left to do. I burst into tears on the bus because I realised I hadn't yet cancelled my health insurance... perhaps I am projecting? I came home and I realised that maybe what I was feeling is a normal mix of trepidation and anxiety at the idea of leaving my comfort zone. Leaving my friends and family behind, and setting off, into the wide world all by myself. I came to the very rational realisation that it is pretty normal to be scared, and it is totally ok to be sad that I am going to miss people.

I am not usually the type of person that enjoys a lot of time on my own. This is one of the reasons I have decided to do this trip. I want to learn to be on my own. To be independent and not to rely on others for my sense of happiness and safety. It is a scary thing, facing your fears, but that's the point isn't it!

Today I am not so stressed. Today I wrote a list of the things I have left to do, and it was surprisingly a very short list. So instead, today I am excited. I am thinking about what book I might like to take with me on the plane, I am thinking about what the weather might be like in Dubai when I land. I am wondering how much currency to change over and which shoes to wear... These aren't things that I have let myself wonder yet. These are the exciting things!!

So, even though there is still 6 days, 17 hours, and 53 minutes until I leave, I think my adventure is beginning now.

And this is my blog :) welcome

xxx