dating across the seas.

Just a little thought I had....

Relationships are hard work. As much as we like to think of them as our own personal fairytales, there is often a lot sacrificed behind the scenes to make things work. Right now, my boyfriend is sacrificing a whole lot of sleep.
Yes, all relationships require varying levels of sacrifice, but when you add 7,880 miles, an 18 hour time difference and the earths largest oceanic divide... things become a whole different ball game.
Rather than trying to find spare time inbetween classes, i'm finding myself having to navigate international time zones. We used to be able to hang out, watch a movie, go and lie in the park -now we have skype dates. And I don't care what anyone says, as much as I thank the heavens for the creation of video chat, it can in no way ever replicate the real thing.
It doesn't sound like there's much going for long distance, but I can easily say we kick butt at communicating -whether we're goofing around or having a serious conversation about "us", we pretty much rock. I also now believe that old adage of absence making the heart grow fonder. There are so many times where I would swap anything to be with him for just 10 minutes. And I know when we are together again, i'm going to value every moment of it.
Long distance doesn't suit anyone, and it definately isn't something I could do forever. But it isn't entirely evil, for one i'm discovering a lot of things about myself as a person, but mainly -it's just making me realise how lucky I actually am :)

why play it safe?

According to a famous Moroccan proverb, “He who has nothing to die for, has nothing to live for”. Society is constantly being told to live a life without regret, to live for the moment, to never look back. Easier said than done, we all seem to embrace these sentiments, yet they are never followed through. We continue to accept situations as they are, to work with what we have rather than fight for what we want. We all know, that in life it is better to err on the side of adventure than play it safe, so why don’t we follow through?

Life is about growth, to be able to emotionally grow and mature is a rite every human-being is entitled to. When you live a life without adventure, you are unlikely to realise your full potential. By constantly playing it safe, you may live a decent life, you may be content to a certain extent, but you will never truly know what you are capable of. When you push the boundaries, ask things people long to hear but are to afraid to ask and always try to live a life that you can look back on without regret of opportunities missed, not only do you continually learn about human nature and the people around you, you also learn a great deal about yourself and your capabilities. It is only through recognising your own strengths and faults, and having the ability to accept and improve on them, that you will be able to blossom into adulthood.

A part of living life on the adventurous side is taking risks. Risk comes from the fear of the undecided and is something that will be avoided at all costs by anyone who wants to play it safe. However, taking risks often bears the greatest rewards. When you plunge head first into something with no idea on what the outcome will be, whether it’s a risky business enterprise or throwing yourself out of an aeroplane, every emotion is magnified. The exhilaration of taking the first step. The happiness in the realisation that you can achieve more than you thought you could. The feeling of fulfilment and pride in the knowledge that instead of following the path set out for you, you took a chance, and it paid off. To take a risk, is to take a chance in life, and in yourself.

High achievers are often the ones that take risks, this is what separates them from ‘ordinary folk’. Virgil wrote over 2,000 years ago that “Fortune sides with him who dares”. Good fortune doesn’t come to us, we are the ones that need to go to it through taking risks and making the most out of the only life we have. By leaving the security net behind, and deciding to face the fears we are constantly trapped behind, you are only strengthening your own inner resolve.

Yes, by living on the adventurous side of life you will be scared. Terrified, even. There will be times where you have no idea what is going to appear around the corner. There will be risk involved, and it will not always pay off. But aren’t all these things what make being a human so unique? We have the choice, and the opportunity to be whoever we want to be and do whatever we want to do. We only live once, so why just feel content? Or mediocre? When you play it safe, follow a plan, don’t occasionally take the gravel road, you will never truly know what it’s like to experience life.

The challenge = 30 countries. 30 years.

I stole this idea from my friend Mel, who I met on a Contiki in New York.

As previously mentioned, I like planning. I also like goals, but have never really had a long term goal. I remember my brother always saying that by the time he was 30 he wanted to own a new BMW –which I guess would act as a visual sign of the level of success he wanted to attain by that age.

Personally, I’m not really into cars. And since I don’t know exactly what path I’m going to follow career wise, I don’t really want to make any career related goals. That’s when I came across Mel’s goal… it’s so perfect I’m going to have to steal it for myself.

30 COUNTRIES BEFORE I TURN 30

A pretty big ask, In a nutshell I have 10 years and 2 months to visit 18 countries more countries! The countdown begins….

THINGS I’VE ALREADY DONE:
Fed Kangaroos in Australia
Hugged the worlds biggest Kauri tree in New Zealand
Learnt about sugar cane plantations in Fiji
Chewed gum in Singapore
Had a proper Greek salad in Greece
Got lost in Pompeii, Italy
Said hello to the Mona Lisa in France
Sat in King Henry’s chair in England
Had a Baileys in Ireland
Lived practically next door to Edinburgh castle in Scotland
Been an underage drinker in the USA
Driven on the wrong side of the road in Canada

AND ON THE TO-DO LIST……
Drink Vodka in Russia
Eat a proper curry in India
Learn to play soccer in Brazil
Cruise in a vintage Ford in Cuba
See the pyramids of Giza in Egypt
Spend an ANZAC day at Gallipoli, Turkey
Eat a Toblerone in Switzerland
Visit the site of the crucifixion, Israel
Trawl the markets of Hungary
Go sailing in Sweden
Visit Anne Franks House in Amsterdam
Sleep in Count Draculas house, Albania
Ride the bullet train in Japan
Visit the worlds largest brewery in Belgium
Watch Marlene Dietrich films in Germany
Walk the Great Wall of China
Learn to Argentine Tango in Argentina
Go on a safari in South Africa

So there it is. The challenge. Good luck me.