Having arrived back home in Copenhagen after this amazing round-the-world journey, we thought we would reflect a little on what we’ve learned.
It seems like an eternity ago – the rush in the final days of April 2015 to pack up our apartment, and the mix of relief and excitement when we finally locked up the basement storage and jumped in the car just a half hour before our tenants moved in. Within weeks, our new lifestyle had taken hold. Driving at our own speed through the beautiful countryside of The Netherlands, Belgium and then France, traveling soon became our new way of life. Having visited 28 countries and over 90 cities, we have been to some of the most beautiful places, met great people and experienced the amazing diversity of food (beer) and culture that our world has to offer. Rather than satisfying our urge to travel, this trip has awakened a deep appreciation for experiencing the new and challenging ourselves. Luckily there is still so much out there to see.
Now to the advice. Alex’s uncle Ken shared a great graphic that captures our experience perfectly. Actually, we skipped most of the intermediate steps and jumped almost immediately to the last 2 (although we do love free food and cool t-shirts). But joking aside for a moment, we don’t have any special life wisdom to share (sorry). But one thing that we learned (and you can wonder why it’s not obvious from the beginning) is that you have to pursue your passions and take (even if small) risks to be happy. For many our of friends this could be a job they love, a hobby they’re passionate about, a house, children, family or friends. For us, in 2015, it was embarking on a trip to see the world. But whatever it is, life is short, and there is no time to lose.
