Live your own dream!

Why wouldn't you do something like this?

Do you feel like you would like to do more? Escape a bit? Do you have the urge to travel but don't know what to do about it? Would you like to try your limits? Grab the dream you have lingering in your mind?

For years I had the urge to take a vacation from my life, but was unsure how to do it. I wasn't sure what kind of thing I would like to do: Travel? Study something completely different? It made me wonder what I actually even want from my life.

Balancing is an experience in itself.

My subconcious decided that I would have to make a trip. But how? Just buy a ticket somewhere and see how it turns out? Or save money and pay for some organization to organize voluntary work options for me? Or just take a ship from the harbour, leave a life here behind, like Juha Watt Vainio sings? I was trapped between being scared to leave and frustrated to stay.

I was also scared to talk about my dreams - what if I wouldn't have the courage or money to go afterall? What if I took the step and failed? What would people think about me? What would I think about myself then?

It took me many years to realise that taking the risk is the sweetest part of making your dreams come true.

So finally last year I understood that holding inside the urge to return to my own way was causing me to hurt people I love. I was turning into a bitter and dreamless man, although, not many of my friends would recognize that in me. I had suppressed thoughts, I was holding inside too much. Wherever I found comfort for a while, I grasped it, often too hard. In the process I broke promises. I broke hearts. Not least my own.

"Just sit down and listen. Just listen. What do you have to worry about? You have everything you need to build everything all over again. You are free to wander."

In the quietness of a mountain lake. Happy and just fine.

I was told that a long time ago by a woman that changed many thoughts inside my head. Her name is Caroline. But it only made sense now. It's true: why would I need to build something steady all my life? Why not enjoy now when it's easy? 

I believe in myself - I can start building later and surely I will be fine.

In November 2011, when I had quit my job, at key account management, I knew I had taken the famous first step. I kept taking small steps, one after another, and that journey took me to Indonesia. But I'm not finished yet. Im still moving.

 "Only listen to those, who tell you what you can achieve. Don't listen to anybody who makes you feel worthless."

I know it's not good to tell people what to do. I do it anyway since I'm so excited of the way I turned on the next gear in my own life. Here it comes:

You can go too. Whatever your dream is, it's important to take the first step. I know it feels like an unnecessary risk at the time, but if you never take it, you never know what you lose. Take it easy if you want, or make it big right from the start. It's your own life and you are the only one in control of it.

You feel, see and experience the things in your life, no-one else. If somebody else has done something similar before, it makes your adventure no less unique. Ultimately you are writing your own story right now.

Don't postpone what you can do now. Make your memories today and you have the rest of your life to appreciate the things you have learned.

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost."

Essentially, you only need faith in yourself to live a happy life. Just take a look at the world through your heart and you will see that the most important things are those that truly make you happy - not the ones you think you have to achieve in order to fulfill expectations. 


When you recognize your dreams and take the first step, the whole universe will help you achieve what you want! This is a fact, but you won't believe it until you have experienced it yourself.

On this page, I list some links, opportunities and ispirational quotes/people that I have found comforting in my struggle of frustration. Just to help you out with planning.

Feel free to share your own ideas! Just drop a comment if you know some good opportunities, and I'll add them to the list.

I hope the road is light for you to travel!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 7 Interchange 

www.the7interchange.com

The Seven Interchange is a social and environmental volunteer exchange network, offering low cost or free opportunities around the globe.

On the web page you can view the host projects for free, but in order to get the hosts contact information, you need to register as a volunteer. It is quick, easy and trustworthy. 

This is a good way to look into the world of voluntary work and feed your thoughts. I promise that after browsing through the available projects you wont be able to fall asleep at night - you'll be overwhelmed by mental images of a trip that could soon be true!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maaillanvaihto

maailmanvaihto.fi

This page is for the finnish speaking only. Maailmanvaihto offers voluntary work opportunities in over 30 countries. This is a wery well organized process including training, language education, bonding with other volunteers before and after your own trip as well as accomodation and full service at the voluntary work location.

This option is for those who can afford it and prefer not to do all the organizing theirselves. It is a safe way to go abroad and you will always have a helping hand, but comes with costs. At the moment, 6 month programme costs 3500e and 12 month programme 4200e, not including flight tickets.

It might seem like a big money, but when you think about it, 4200e is a small price to pay for the experiences you get for living a year abroad.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------