roshnikakadA Leap of Faith
In 2021, I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to travel solo across Nepal. What was meant to be a one month break turned into five months of soul searching. In hindsight, I didn’t realise this experience would only be a piece of the jigsaw in my self-discovery journey.
You’ve probably assumed by now that this is yet another spinoff of ‘A former 9 to 5 hustler who travels and finds herself’. Many believed I pursued a perfect pipe dream. Quit the rat race on a whim, travel indefinitely, and abracadabra! Return as an alchemist, who’s got it all figured out.
The Reality
But here’s a less glorified version for you. Leaving my job wasn’t an overnight decision, nor an easy one. It took almost 2 years of overthinking and introspection to accept that I had outgrown a phase of my career, and the lifestyle that came with it. I hadn’t laid out a linear road map for what I wanted to do next. But instead of evaporating another 2 years in contemplation, I did a self-audit, asked myself tough questions, and answered them honestly and unapologetically.
Ultimately I was seeking to reinvent my soul, independent of the conditionings of an ecosystem that has rendered only a ‘version’ of me. While my decision may or may not resonate with everyone, it was a conscious choice to redirect my attention towards immersive experiences that I consider therapeutic for my inner journey.
Lessons unlearned
Traveling is undoubtedly a mainstream choice to cure the mundane itch, but it’s not a one size fits all solution. Because eventually, all the excess baggage that comes with life catches up no matter where you are or what you do. Over time, I’ve unlearned the concept of escapism and embraced traveling as a practice to re-align my mind and heart. A purpose that continues to influence my self-development.
In those five months, I realised that travel doesn’t magically rewrite your life the way ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ romanticises; it simply reflects the parts of you that need attention. Leaving my job wasn’t an escape route. It was an invitation to return to myself at a pace and depth I’d long ignored.
