The Price of the Dream: Choosing Travel Over Fear
There are three kinds of travelers in the world: those that are born with the intuition to be avid adventurers, those who suddenly have the urge to travel and follow that compulsion across the world, and those who want to travel, but don’t know how to make it happen for themselves.
The ones that long to travel, yet don’t know where to start, will wait for a miraculous sign that the trip they want to go on was meant to be. The million reasons why they shouldn’t travel will stack high in opposition to the reasons why they should. The doubts win, nearly every time.
The reason, the sign, the answer to satisfy that yearning to pursue a desire beyond our wildest dreams is simple, however, it's not easy.
To quote 20th century Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels Leon J. Suenens, “Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true. ” Dreams come in many forms that are often classified as pipe dreams.
At what point do you decide that something is too far out of reach? What price are you willing to pay to achieve that dream? What mental limitations do you put on yourself that stops you from making that dream a reality?
There will always be a multitude of reasons why not to go on that trip, or take that job on the other side of the world. Or simply take that leap to do something that would otherwise stay a dream.
Snapshot from hiking along La Costa Brava in Spain as we pass through a small village in October 2022.
There are infinite trade-offs in life. Buy that cup of coffee or make a drink at home. Go out on the town or save up for that flight. Purchase a car or book your next trip. Life is made up of little decisions that lead us to where we are now. There are the things we can’t live without and things we are willing to sacrifice to live a reality that we want. It is up to us to decide what price we are willing to pay to make our lives worth living.
One of the simple answers all of those yearning travelers are looking for is right in front of them; hone in on delayed gratification and you just might make more progress than you have in years. However, most won't. Why? Fear.
“Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line we have drawn for it” - Herman Hesse
The time I went backpacking with a group of young women in the Whistler backcountry in 2023.
Fear is the biggest setback for people. The internal battles we have with ourselves can stop us from being the best versions of ourselves. Fear of the unknown. Fear of being lonely. Fear of lacking safety. Fear of incompetence.
Fear holds you back from having what could be an incredibly strengthening experience that feeds your soul.
While traveling you learn how to be scrappy, think on your feet and take things as they come. Travel has a way of humbling you to see that we are just a small piece of the puzzle.
You meet new people from all walks of life. Share experiences that bring you closer to that oneness with all life.
You build a community that is not based on proximity, but shares the value of purpose driven experiences.
You reignite your childlike curiosity for adventure.
You create a new version of yourself that you never thought possible.
Live intentionally. Invest in your future self and if that comes in the form of paying the price to take new, scary travel opportunities, so be it! Don’t become prisoner to immediate gratification. Fill up your cup with every decision you make leading to a more enriching life full of choices you believe in.
Some people never let go of the sense of belonging they find right on the same street corner where they grew up. Then there are the people like me, who travel to the other side of the world to find it.
In Wyoming where I’ve been blessed to spend the last two summers exploring the mountains on horseback and getting paid to do it. 2024 and 2025.
Everyone has a story to share. These stories are filled with challenges, deep connections and priceless memories. How do you want your story to be written?
The decision to continue making travel happen adds to our tapestry of colors only giving life more vibrance and purpose in a world where it is so easy to get lost.
Let us shed the fear of taking the leap to get in the car, hop on the train or book the flight to continue finding purpose and following our passions. Once we can overcome our fears, the next trip itinerary will be well underway.
Travel with purpose. Find resilience in Slovenia, seek clarity through life’s ebb and flow in Baja, find your voice in Patagonia, learn the power of forgiveness in Vietnam. Find on your own terms that the community and sisterhood you may be seeking reaches all corners of the globe. See how restorative travel through Honest Heart Journeys can support you in growth and grace for the year ahead.
Since graduating from The University of Colorado, Boulder in December 2021, Grace Foster has been following her passions through seasonal work. From ski instructing in British Columbia to guiding horseback rides in New Zealand, she is excited to continue building a global sisterhood through her love of travel.
Grace is helping spread the word about HHJ’s sustaining ecosystem of travel, community & inspiration through sisterhood!
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