{"id":32393,"date":"2017-02-10T12:18:49","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T12:18:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=32393"},"modified":"2023-12-08T13:57:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T13:57:58","slug":"travel-is-my-soulmate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/travel-is-my-soulmate\/","title":{"rendered":"I Love You, But Travel Is My Soulmate \u2013 An Open Letter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear Loved Ones: an open letter to those we leave behind\u2026<\/h3>\n

When I told you I was leaving, I didn\u2019t know where I was heading. I just knew I had to go.<\/p>\n

You looked at me with an amused smile and sadness in your eyes. My excited ramblings about needing to escape my comfort zone and live my life confused you. Wasn\u2019t life already good here?<\/p>\n

I gave a million reasons as I tried to justify this knot in my stomach. My heart longed for newness, lands I\u2019d never seen and people I\u2019d never met. It wasn\u2019t easy to explain. I felt selfish. Maybe I\u2019m selfish.<\/p>\n

I talked as knowledgeably as I could about the Thai Islands I was going to learn to dive around, the mountains I was going to climb. But, I had no clue. You could see that and I know it worried you. You asked me if this was what I really wanted. I didn\u2019t know, but I said yes anyway.<\/p>\n

We talked, but my mind was already made up. You asked me how I was going to do it, and you let me ramble on about buses, trains and budgets. In all honesty, I had no idea how I was going to survive. I had so many fears about never talking to another soul, being sick and alone, just not being able to do it. Perhaps, I\u2019d spend a year holed up in one hostel sharing inspiring images I found on Google.<\/p>\n

Through all your fears, you supported me anyway. Your words of encouragement and love, gave me the green light to chase adventure. My journey would never have happened without you, I am grateful.<\/p>\n

We cried, we hugged, we shared letters and promises to keep in touch. Even back then, deep down, we knew that things would never be the same again.<\/p>\n

But I left anyway.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve learnt that I can do it. Travelling is a privilege and one I\u2019m eternally grateful for. All those fears disappeared and the sheer wonder and freedom I feel every single day is what I was running to.<\/p>\n

I know I\u2019ve changed and I couldn\u2019t help it. I am still me, but well I\u2019m different too. I love my travelling life and I\u2019ve learnt to be content and at peace. I envy your intrinsic serenity but please understand that I had to leave to find mine.<\/p>\n

I love you, but I love travel too.<\/p>\n

Xxx<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Read more about guest author Johanna Whitaker\u2019s travels and adventures at:\u00a0visionsofjohanna.org<\/a>\u00a0and her Instagram<\/a>! <\/em><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf7: @ic.theworld<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Loved Ones: an open letter to those we leave behind\u2026 When I told you I was leaving, I didn\u2019t know where I was heading. I just knew I had to go. You looked at me with an amused smile and sadness in your eyes. My excited ramblings about needing to escape my comfort zone…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9473],"tags":[115,59,1938,2637,254796,1003],"class_list":["post-32393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-travel-tips","tag-hostel","tag-inspire-me","tag-love","tag-solo-travel","tag-soltra","tag-wanderlust","wpbf-post"],"yoast_head":"\nI Love You, But Travel Is My Soulmate \u2013 An Open Letter - Hostelworld Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dear Loved Ones: An open letter to those we leave behind. 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