IIIt doesn't matter what your dreams, goals, and passions are in life, it just matters that you reach out for them.
Hi Everyone!
As you know, I always like to look ahead and make plans.
I have recently been reading a new blog by EXPLORER. It's all about getting ready for a round the world trip.
But one particular post could be applied to any person striving towards a big goal in life-be it-DEBT FREEDOM, MORTGAGE FREEDOM or TRAVEL EXPERIENCES.
My favourite quote is:
However, we don't want to lose site of the journey we live each and every day simply because we are preparing for our long-term adventure. That would be like saving every last drop of money for retirement without enjoying some of the best years of your life. I don't know anyone who has that much discipline and focus and frankly, I don't think it's a strength. You never know what you'd miss along the way, and would you really be living your life? To put all of our focus on the trip ahead might allow us to save a bit more money, but it wouldn't be worth it to us if we lost our sanity and hibernated in our house all year.
I think I WAS losing my sanity a while back-waiting for our trip to Africa and Mortgage Freedom. So we began to plan some small adventures too.
Dannie, who created the idea of an ULTIMATE LIFE LIST http://myultimatelifelist.blogspot.co.uk/
is very good at this, she plans smaller and bigger experiences along the way.
So we looked ahead and planned some EXCITING EXPERIENCES ON A BUDGET-Such as
September:
Paralympics - Our tickets were just £20 each and we have been sent a travel card too.
Mum's was just £5.
We hope to go into Central London before the events start at 7pm-maybe to the Tower of London as we have an annual pass we can use to get in at minimum cost.
October:
Elgar's Cello Concerto-London Symphony Orchestra-Our tickets were £11 each. Well worth it for an evening of heavenly music.
War Horse Play-We have the best seats thanks to selling our previous tickets on ebay for an amazing amount.
November-No plans yet.
December
Carmen Opera at the English National Opera-Mr Sft has treated me for my birthday but we still went for £25 tickets.
Aside from an excursion in November we will continue our frugal living in order to save for future travel.
So over to you...do you plan small adventures along the way?
Or do you find other ways to keep going on your journey?
How are you reaching out for your dreams?
Sft x
P.S. If you have a moment-pop over to Mary's blog-and read about her thrilling visit to the edge of VICTORIA FALLS-http://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.co.uk/
Thank you for your comments about yesterday's post:
Wean: Great to hear from you! I was rejected by Adsense. LOL! I'm not too cut up about it.
Betty: What a brilliant fantasty. We must rent a RV one day, just to experience that freedom. So you fell in love with that part of the USA from last year's trip. It is very beautiful. How about posting some photos of your trip on your blog?
Suze: Lovely to hear from you! Your fantasy sounds blissful, I love being near the ocean and the little cottage would be perfection. Have you anywhere in mind?
Jo: Have a wonderful holiday! So looking forward to hearing about it when I get back.
I will never tire of seeing elephants, they are such interesting animals. I can't wait to share all my encounters from Africa. Your mum has excellent taste!
Mary: Thank you so much for posting about Vic Falls for me! I loved it and really enjoyed showing Mr Sft. Yes, a crazy visit! Hope you don't mind but I've put a link on this post, so others can enjoy it too!
My nephew does NOT think he will go on the helicopter ride but I'm hoping he will change his mind. He definitely wants to go on the light aircraft over the Delta but seems fearful of helicopters despite our arguments.
I LOVE OUT OF AFRICA! Love the novel and love the film. Yes, going up in the Tiger Moth was just like that! I'll have to show you some photos on a Thankful Thursday post.
We watched an amazing programme recently about the Zambezi, such an interesting river.
For the bucket list (Ultimate Life List) we have listed our ultimate travel experiences - typically they cost more hence all the saving. There is no point going for half measures-we're only here once!
We are going to take some very warm clothing for early mornings and late evenings. My woolly hat and gloves are coming with me for sure.
I will send you my e-mail. Thanks again for your warm wishes and yes it would be lovely to all meet up.
Gill: Now the Rocky Mountaineer would be AMAZING! Out of this world scenery as you say...so worth it! Thanks for sharing, I may have to consider it for a future trip. So glad you are blogging again.
Hi SFT, just catching up on my blog reading. How true that quote is, recent events have taught us to treasure the now, as well as plan for the future. Thanks for the good wishes for my dad, tried to give him all those kisses but he was beating me off and struggling for breath eventually! Have a good weekend xxx
ReplyDeleteI certainly do have several places in mind but not the millions I would need. But dreaming is a beginning.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid my life's circumstances mean many dreams will remain that. Most of my travel will be by book and television. I do want to do another cruise but for the next few years it looks unlikely. Love a holiday that is a rest for me. I have been seeing much more live theatre. I buy cheaper tickets most of the time. I learned my lesson after paying over $150 a seat for my girls to see Wicked. We then went to Mary Poppins with $40 seats. Sure we were further back but a great time was had by all and we all went for less than the cost of one ticket. Because my girls sing and play various instruments we go to a lot of events with them too.
Our next holiday is planned and half paid for. We are going to a pretty little village that is called Lennox Head, Looking after mum and dad means that our choices now need to be very practical.
that is such a neat idea, planning mini "trips" I think I will copy that idea, as we can't afford to go on vacation this year.
ReplyDeleteGill in Canada
We don't really have small adventures - unless you count the day out to Bolton Abbey earlier this year. It takes every spare penny to be able to pay for our trip to Cornwall and to make a miniscule overpayment on the mortgage each month in our bid to pay it off by the time J is 60 so that he can retire early. We managed to extend our Cornwall trip this year by having 6 nights camping at a lovely site that cost just £11 per night.Our life has always been like that - I don't resent it( except when the prospect of not being able to go to K's wedding really got to me)and just accept that this is it. I am rich in so many ways other than financially, and it's appreciating those things that keeps me going.
ReplyDeleteThis might be a bit longwinded but here goes.
ReplyDeleteSince the death of my OH almost two years ago, I can list all of the things he has missed, weddings of two GD's, the birth of GGD, driving his classic car, soccer games, graduations,reunions, birthdays and travelling to the Masters and Cuba. Of course, I always knew that we are here on this earth only once, but now I look at life differently, in part I think, due to his death plus the fact that I am getting older. I want to do as much as I can in what time is left to me, my bank book and my health will allow. I don't mean expensive vacations to far away places but trips to local places that cost next to nothing. A walk around a park, visiting family & friends, going to a movie or concert, a trip to the garden centre in the middle of Winter to get my "flower fix", or going that quilt shop to buy that piece of fabric that I just had to have. I don't want to be in a nursing home 5,10 years or more from now saying "I wish I had gone to S.A. or that plant would have looked great in my garden or I should have gone to this or that, or visited more with family and friends".
Some of my dreams will remain just that, but I have been fulfilling some of my mini dreams, or desires, by doing more and intend to do the same in the future.
Patricia
I've never really been a forward planner & often feel nervous about booking something in advance, so a lot of our road trips have just been about taking off & going with the flow...
ReplyDeleteWe are so happy with being at home, we have nothing in the pipeline at the moment - apart from a week on Bodmin Moor for our 25th wedding anniversary... Hahaha!
We still dream of adventures & what the future holds, but we'll just see what happens...
Kay :)
Glad you have realised this as I was a bit worried that you were over focused & missing living in the current - don't get me wrong, I admire your dedication to your goals :)
ReplyDeleteMy father died when I was 21, he was 46, this is when I realised that it is all well & good to save for the future, but what if you are not here to enjoy the things you have planned to do 'in a few years'? So I decided that I would always do some of everything & that way I enjoy what I can now, am saving for the future & always have big ideas about what I can do in the future - some of which will come true. If I do happen to die in 2 years time aged 46 like him, I will feel satisfied that I have experienced lots of many things & places, traveled afar & left a legacy for my boys.
Hope the planned immigration workers strike does not affect your travel plans! Your new blog looks great too. Sx
Hi Sft :)
ReplyDeleteWell posting photos is a good idea - if I've been already through all of them :D I made about 5.000 pictures on my trip and I was already before very much in love with that region, but we didn't made it so far there. I was with my flatmate and so I had to accept her wishes too. Next time I'm going to go with my boyfriend and we're both liking the same things, so it will be much easier then.
My small adventures where in June a Brian Adams concert with my friend. I totally wanted to see him and he was coming to Vienna, so I just couldn't say no when he's that near.
In July I had something like a "holiday" with my boyfriend. We were 3 days in Germany visiting friends and having a meeting with the Yucca-club we're both members of. It was a stressful weekend with lots of driving, but it was so worth it 'cause we were away from home and not in the normal day-life.
Another small adventure I'm planning now is a two-days hiking tour we plan to make in September when the weather is nice. Since I don't have the money in this year for another far-away trip we decided to do a hiking tour in our region. The costs for the night at the lodge are about 15-20 € so that's not as much as you would pay in any hotel when you're going on holiday and as we both enjoy the nature, this is like a small holiday and it's our adventure of the year, since we both have never made a two day hiking tour.
I love your plan with the Paralympics. Thought about that too, but for me it would've been expensive 'cause the flight prizes to London are really high now for the whole Olympic and Paralympic Time :(
Hope you enjoy that :)
Betty x
Like a lot of the other posters, i think life is about finding that balance, about planning for the future you want and adventures but also appreciating the day to day stuff.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said, you never know whether tomorrow comes and so although its great to plan for future trips its also important to value each day.
I don't think the small stuff or any of it has to be expensive, simple things like being with others is just as important, but equally you can have a fantastic trip on such a shoe string.xx