There is a lot of hype about heading out into the world and doing your own thing. So why aren’t more people doing it? Excuses! I’ve seen everything from having to find the right designer backpack to people thinking they need some all-in-one tech gadgety thing that will somehow save you from any woes. Here is the truth: put your crap in a bag and go. (If you don’t, you lose!)
Loser Excuse #1: I don’t have the right gear…
I have the same broke-down backpack that I bought when I was nineteen. It’s been all over the world and continues to wrack up miles. It’s been all over the US, Australia, Europe, Thailand and has many more adventures to come. It doesn’t matter if you have a new bag, grab your nearest Hefty garbage bag, put your stuff in it and go. You are just delaying your fun by deliberating about stuff you think you must have in order to go and live your life!!
Loser Excuse #2: I don’t have the right technology…
Waiting around to save up for the latest and greatest MacBook? Don’t! Just use what you’ve got and hit the road. My laptop is about the size of a Cadillac. It’s heavy, and sturdy, and gets the job done. I’ve had it for six years and it is still kickin’. Don’t let technology keep you on your couch making excuses. There’s more electrical tape on my charger cord than anyone’s at home, but I’m seeing the world. Wrap it up, pack it up and go. Spend the money on a one way ticket instead of a fancy new notebook.
Loser Excuse #3: I don’t have any money…
Do you have a car? Do you have some furniture? Sell it. Whamo! You have money! For some reason, everyone assumes I’m rich. Newsflash: I’m NOT! I’m rich in the activities that I do with my life, and I am wealthy with friendships and opportunities. I did what it took to get out here, namely, working my butt off and selling everything I owned. Is this easy? No. But was it worth it…Hell Yes! I didn’t have a ton of clients, I had no savings, and I didn’t know where I was going to live. I just did it, And So Can You! You are a clever person, once you get somewhere, you can figure it out 
!
Loser Excuse #4: I can’t leave because of my _______
Fill in the blank with any obligation. Other people will never want you to go. But your life isn’t up to other people! You have to be willing to go and do your thing. This means leaving behind things like family, loved ones, and even pets. I know this is hard, because I did it. I had the boyfriend, the dogs, the white picket fence & the SUV. Now I have a backpack and a life.
One of my readers, Betsy, recently posted this:
“When we started a life of “voluntary simplicity” 3 years ago it was to reclaim some space in our lives (literally and figuratively). Our social life expanded to fill the void from material things, and that is a more than fair trade.”
Now her and her husband are planning an around the world trip. I wrote her back, congratulating her for making the move to simplicity and filling up her life.
I’d rather see You filling up your Life instead of your Garage!
Soooooooooooooooo…
1. Forget about the gear, and get Hefty.
2. Take your heavy-ass laptop around the world. It’s good for building arm strength & looking vintage.
3. Sell your crap, buy a plane ticket. Be clever and your world will never be destroyed.
4. Can the excuses and get a life.
Thoughts? Leave a comment!
Twitter Updates
31 July 2009 at 10:45 am
I like your tell it like it is, no sugar coating style! People need to hear that.
I am in the process of selling all my crap now and am looking forward to hitting the road!
1 August 2009 at 8:44 am
There needs to be more people like you that tell you exactly what you need to hear with blunt honesty. As soon as the car sells, the plane ticket will be mine!
2 August 2009 at 12:25 am
The biggest excuse when heard from others when I did my first world trip was ‘I’ve got a mortgage’. Yes, so do I. Since then, I’ve returned to London and still have my tenants paying my mortgage. The secret to happiness is realising that the less stuff you have, the more freedom you have. I’ve become more generous, have more friends, and many more happy memories. I do live in a very small rented room though but its worth it. Going off again in December and looking forward to getting rid of my stuff in car boot sales. Anyone need a Citroen C3?
2 August 2009 at 4:02 am
@Tim – That’s great! I’m excited for you, where are you going?
@Sean – Glad you liked the post
Where are you headed first?
@Robyn – I’ve heard the mortgage excuse many times before, too. But most of my friends out here just got creative and figured it out. Most of them found subleters, and many return back just to get rid of it all. My favorite is a friend of mine came out here with only one item: a toothbrush. His buddy told him that’s all he really needed, he could buy the rest here. And, he was right!
Thanks for the comments, I love hearing from you guys!!
4 August 2009 at 4:31 am
hey brooke, love your style! some people really do just need a wake-up call and a slap round the head …
but what about those who really do have no money? at the moment i am unemployed and living off my retired, pension-getting parents’ goodwill (in their granny flat) after being made redundant (with no redundancy package). i have no car, no furniture, not even a tv. i feel like i really do have an excuse not to be able to buy that ticket. the banks won’t even give me a credit card, let alone a personal loan
any ideas?
5 August 2009 at 12:25 am
@Xenchic
Thanks for reading and your comment. My recommendation would be to get any type of job you can and start looking for overseas opportunities. There are tons of teaching gigs you can get in foreign countries. Most of the countries in Asia pay really well for English teachers. You don’t have to have a teaching degree in most places, either. If you just look at getting any job just to finance your plane ticket, it will get you motivated for more, and you can begin to look at bigger and better opportunities around the world! Thanks for writing and hope this helps!
Brooke
PS check out John B’s website : YouCanTeachEnglish.com.
6 August 2009 at 12:07 pm
Ahhh, Love the no BS, tell it like it is style. You are right, all you need is the guts to go. I just returned from a one week excursion, when my wife kept telling me we don’t have the money, and I better not come back if I left, (which I was very tempted to do, but i love my kids).
Everything is back to normal (hmm, maybe that is the problem?) Anyway, I will be soon taking two weeks and two months excursions, before going 100% nomadic. I love it when a plan comes together.
Rasheed
10 August 2009 at 7:13 am
Okay, how funny is this? I logged on today to catch up on the last few posts and to list you as one of my favorite Travel blogs for a Superior Scribbler award (posting tomorrow). And you have my quote right inside a great blog post that I wish I had written! I like the Hefty bag comment and may have to use that the next time someone tells me they “could never do this.”
Love this post and love your blog!
11 August 2009 at 11:51 pm
@Rasheed – The way I see it, there is never going to be enough time or money for travel. There will always be excuses of why Not to go, but it is really just a personal decision. When you decide to buy the plane ticket, everything just falls into place! The money you thought you didn’t have comes in, right along with the opportunities. This is so fantastic because now we have life experiences to fall back on and our small worlds have grown. Congrats for making the choice to g r o w!!
@Betsy – OMG that is so funny! I loved your comment and had to share :0) Thank you so much for submitting me for the award, that completely made my day. I’m still gaining confidence as a writer and really appreciate your comments and faith! Thanks for your continuous support, it really means a lot.
12 August 2009 at 9:57 am
I love your JUST DO IT! attitude too…so refreshing!
I don’t have a mortgage but do own a car and some furniture and after reading this think it will be going on sale soon.
I have been dithering about just taking off somewhere, i have recently been offered redundancy but have only been with the company 4 yrs…so wouldn’t get alot…and feel at 40 yrs of age a little old but if i dont do it now i never will, so i’m off in the new year..WooHoo!
12 August 2009 at 10:21 am
I stopped trying to talk people out of their excuses years ago. Most folks say they want to travel because that’s one of those goals we all supposedly have, e.g. “retire and see the world”. But they don’t *really* have the interest or desire. And those 4 excuses you list are so painfully lame, I’d just shrug and change the topic.
And by the way, being in possession of #1 & #2 is just begging to be pickpocketed or robbed.
14 August 2009 at 6:19 am
Great post…
Reminds me of me leaving England 4 years ago. After returning from a holiday in Thailand, I quit my 65k a year job, sold my M3, let go of my apartment, split up with my missus (5 years) and only 5 days later… I was back on Koh Samui with a small bag
18 August 2009 at 4:32 am
What I’ve realized after traveling around the world for 8 months is that you don’t need a lot of gear. Brooke already commented about her friend coming with only a toothbrush, he could even have gotten that one on arrival.
I’ve been traveling with about 20 kg of stuff. Next time I hope to limit it to 10 kg in a much smaller backpack!
24 August 2009 at 8:05 am
@Ruth – Glad to hear you are going for it and taking the leap of faith! This is so great to hear and hope to hear even more about your planning and adventures along the way! Be in touch
@MoneyMateKate – I got tired of talking about it and decided to just do it. I felt like it was time to live what I wanted instead of just planning mini-vacations or local adventures. I think it is a big leap for a lot of folks, but once you know you are ready, everything begins to fall in place! Thanks so much for commenting!
@Chris – Thanks for sharing your story, I think sometimes others just need to know they are not the only one! I’ve been so happy to hear several similar stories, it makes this journey more tolerable when times get tough! Cheers!
@Wouter Meyers – Yes, I agree. I think I could deal with less and less. I packed a bag for two weeks and have been living out of it for two and a half months. Kinda excited to get back to my pack and rediscover my other clothing, but it was cool to find out how unnecessary most of it was!!