What would I tell my younger self?

 

I have been asking myself this question lately.

I think the events of this year so far have had me really reassessing things and especially as the big 50 approaches next year. OMG I can barely believe I’m nearly 50!

I remember being 15 and getting my driver’s license, 30 seemed a lifetime away and I had all the time in the world. 21 went by in a flash.

Then 25 rolled by, and I was a quarter of a century; a bit of a joke at the time. I was working hard, doing up to 3 jobs a week. I owned my own house, which was a goal of mine, but all my energy was getting sucked away by an unhealthy relationship. My youth was slipping away and I didn’t notice it. All my friends were either doing or had done their big OE, partying and generally having a good time. But I chose a different path.

Before I knew it I was 30!  I can remember the day when I turned 30, I cried. I felt so old, what a laugh now, if only I could be taken back to 30.

Though in a better relationship, I was still working hard and moving up the property ladder. I also had my own business. Not much time for fun, but I enjoyed the physical challenge of home DIY and also used this time to take up horse riding for the first time, something I had always wanted to do as a child.

Then things dramatically changed.

 

In my late 30’s everything in my life I had worked for; relationship, home, business, pretty much came tumbling down. My partner had an affair and left me heart broken and finically strained. But I soldered on like so many other women do.  It wasn’t till just before my 40th birthday my world changed, for the better with a massive leap of faith.

Some of you already know of my story of running away to Paris for my 40th and spending the next 8 months back-packing through Europe, UK, Morocco and Turkey. This was a game changer for me.

Read more if you would like to find out about my “running away” story; Never Settle

Now nearly 10 years have passed and yet in many ways it seems like yesterday.

The strong feeling of a finite life span is very much on my mind, especially with personal events recently, such as my grandmother who raised me going into dementia care and the sudden passing of my father. Time is something we can never get back.

Travel is the one thing that has since I took that leap of faith, reenergized me, grounded me, given me a sense of purpose and direction, it is also so wrapped up in my identity too. I am so grateful I started to travel, even though it was later on in my life. But considering this years events it is no wonder I am feeling a bit lost and uncertain of what 2021 has to offer.

 

 

 

So what would I tell my younger self?

That there is no time like NOW, that tomorrow is not promised to you, so grasp each moment with excitement, passion and joy. Find the things that make you most happy and do them, don’t live your life for another person and believe that you are enough.

We can’t rewind time and do a re-take.

So here’s to reinventing 2021 and starting over like I am my younger self, that turning 50 doesn’t mean I am running out of time, that I just need to make the most of it!

Love the ones your with and tell them, dance in the rain, laugh…..a lot, and defiantly DON’T act your age.

Here’s to all the other ladies reinventing themselves no matter their age!

 

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same; there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”

― Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

 

A little bit about me….

Gina is the woman behind Wanderlust Solo Women Tours and Gina Does Wanderlust.

I was inspired to encourage and facilitate women’s travel after my own trans-formative experiences whilst exploring the world solo. That’s how WANDERLUST SOLO WOMEN TOURS was born and in which I infuse each tour & retreat with opportunity for women to try new things, push the boundaries of their comfort zones and see the beauty that the world has to offer all the while forming solid friendships with like-minded women. Want to know more how I changed my life through travel? Read more here; https://wanderlustsolowomentours.com/about-me-gina/

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