Keeping up with Beth

Off on a new adventure…

I’m so excited for you.

This next chapter is going to be one of the most exciting, challenging, doubtful and self reliant adventures of your life and every single moment is worth it.

Just before you leave- and I MEAN just before, I probably should have written this sooner than I have, a few more pieces of wisdom you might like along the way.

1. Be confident.

Easier said than done but along the way you’ll have so many moments you just want someone else to come in and take over. But know you’re more than powerful enough to walk through every single situation you come across no matter how hard it feels and how much you despair. It may feel clumsy and messy but travel comes with new experiences you have to learn along the way what makes things easier and how you face it next time.

Just keep going, don’t let one bad experience ruin your vision of it, as you go it’ll get easier, practice makes perfect!

2. Don’t forget to eat.

This one probably wasn’t a problem for me, I made sure I had endless snacks in my bag- I still do. But I know you. Take snacks, plan meals. Don’t not eat because its not convenient. And try to eats healthy, your body will thank you so much for it. That is a lesson I’m still teaching myself.

3. Take photo’s

Of it all. People say live in the moment, but take enough time for you phone to see it too! Not for social media but trust me, 2 years from now you’ll find solace in looking through those photos wishing you’d been more confident to get your phone out and grab a quick shot of the sky line, of the views, of the funny moment, of the people you made friends with.

Take pictures of you too. Not Instagram worthy, not perfect model pictures but fun photos. Pictures you’d print out, have in a book show your family. The real side, the genuine smiles, make up free, bags under your eyes, badly styled days. The pictures of you on top of the mountains sweaty and red faced. Pictures of you on the coach travelling across in the middle of the night. Pictures of you in the zoo. The tourist spots, find a way to get a selfie or a fun propped up against a wall with a beautiful background with people judging, they’ll get over it in minutes, that photo lasts forever.

Pretty isn’t important when you’re living and learning to be entirely in the real world. Be unapologetically, unattractively you its okay! Also you look a lot better than you always think you do.

4. Stuff isn’t important

If you need to leave a bottle of shampoo, a hoodie or a shoe gets lost along the way its fine. your safety is more important and sometimes making sure you have everything is less important than the stress that comes with moving half way across the country. If you need to ditch stuff, just do it you can rebuy it in a new city.

5. Enjoy it.

Not every moment will be good, not every moment easy or fun but living in every moment will be so rewarding. You’ll learn, grow love, adventure so much harder when you release the expectations and turn up to every moment willing and ready to enjoy what this incredible world has to offer. You have so much to offer and I can’t wait to see how your adventure unfolds!

It’s so exciting to see you so confident and adventurous ready for these next steps and just so full of life for something new. I know we aren’t losing contact but it’s still a long distance but you’ve got this! You’ve got an incredible opportunity to walk your life however you want, no plans, no expectations, no limits, no ties. Use this chance to do things how you want to and try every new thing you possibly can! Soak up every new opportunity that’s handed to you- no matter how awkward, uncomfortable or ugly you might feel doing it! Growth comes when we step out of our box.

So go forth, be awesome, have the time of your life!!