Our time here is finite, if you can, you should

In February last year I set off for a run, after 2km I stopped.  

My body was in agony.

It all felt familiar, I was so over the pain.

The aftermath of my Costa Rica surf accident rumbled on. The colour in my normally bright life had dimmed. Daily life tainted by a cloud called struggle.

As I gazed at the swans swimming along the canal I took a deep breath and started running again. And ran directly into a guy I know who I previously worked with, we were desk buddies so he knew me inside out.

I'd not seen him since my book launch party in October 2021. Now in 2023 we ‘what’s the chances’ bumped into each other, with me feeling despondent with life and he had that runners glow to him.

I could tell he could see I was a shell of my usual self.

He asked that standard question I was oh so used to, ‘What are your next travel plans?’.

I shrugged before following up with a response from my cloudy struggling mind, “No idea, I need to get my health back”. In my mind I was mumbling, “There is no travel with a broken body”.

How doom and gloom – the optimistic version of myself was definitely not in control of my mind today.

We continued to chat as other Sunday morning runners whizzed past. He'd read my book, which always beings a smile to my face, and filled me in on his own travel goals - he was keen to visit Japan. I nodded before I shared it was incredible, memories of this fascinating country flashed in front of my eyes.

Then it came, the mindset trap I dread, he starts to talk himself out of the trip. Particularly in the same sentence he exclaims it is number one on his to visit list. I was confused.

Although I was standing in pain, breathing through my despair, I could spot a self-made excuse a mile off.

His reason for not visiting Japan seemed logical 'You need to give it a good three weeks', but also it is not true.

I visited Japan in 2015. Travelling Tokyo, Kyoto, Noto and Osaka over 8 days.

There are destinations I didn’t manage to visit and my days there were long as I crammed them full with morning runs and all the sightseeing delights.

But I've experienced Japan, a country so unique and mesmerising, full of culture and breathtakingly beautiful that I still hold it close, even now 8 years later.

I didn't need 3 weeks for Japan to leave a lasting memory. I used the time I had to have a fully immersive experience.

Weirdly we seem to wish away life. We box off our time. 2 weeks for holidays. Max 2 weeks. Nothing more. We use the self-imposed time restriction as a reason to not even try and make what could be a lifetime experience, on a micro level, become a reality.

We admit defeat. Completely caught in the rules of society. Our dreams gone, forever.

Last year some of my favourite trips were short and sharp. Over three or four days.

Paddleboarding in Palma, Spain

Surfing in Sagres, Portugal.

Sea kayaking and cliff jumping in Pula, Croatia.

Street art chasing in Gwent, Belgium.

Castle hunting in Breda, Netherlands.

My ethos as 2022 whizzed on by, ‘Our time here is finite, so if you can you should. Don’t talk yourself out of the possibility of experiencing your dream.’

I experienced Japan, it changed me in ways I will always be grateful and will forever encourage everyone to keep chasing your dreams.

Don’t let self-made constraints stop you.  I dare you to say yes to a mini adventure!

Always remember, ‘If there is a will there is way.’