WHO'S YOUR TRAVEL PARTNER?

Picture this; you’re embarking on an exciting trip. You visualise your destination and anticipate the fun and relaxation you’ll have when you get there. You have a travel partner who you think is equally excited. While working out your itinerary, your travel partner appears to be unclear about desired activities on the trip. Before you depart, she starts to blurt out endless possibilities of what could go wrong on your trip, making you anxious.

You agree to meet at the airport at a specific time and yet your partner arrives late. Since you feel you can’t leave without her; you miss your flight, forfeit your first class ticket and end up having to purchase a new economy ticket for a day later; losing money and time.

At the airport you push around both your luggage, thinking you’re being loyal and supportive. Unfortunately your travel partner’s luggage has prohibited items and you land in trouble with authorities as the items are found in your possession. Your reputation is tarnished.  Once all the mess is sorted out and you’re finally airborne, you confess your fears of flying to your travel partner hoping for some comfort. In turn, she makes fun of your insecurities and says things that instill even more fear.

Upon arrival, she refuses to stick to the agreed itinerary and opts for late mornings, causing you to miss out on great sightseeing. You hop from one hotel to the next due to altercations between her and hotel staff.

You follow her direction and often get lost, compromising your safety. You later wonder whether you weren't better-off travelling solo or with a more responsible and supportive travel partner. 

The beginning of the year is an opportune time for reflection and introspection.  Maybe it’s time you assess travel partners in your journey of life and determine whether they add any value.

If your travel partners constantly make you carry their load, get you in trouble, have no direction and often get you lost, delay your progress, don’t pay their fair share, don’t support your aspirations and just don’t contribute anything positive in your life, maybe it’s time for a clean sweep.

Maybe your issue is access baggage that you just can’t leave behind. It wears you down and delays your progress. Maybe it’s time to offload and travel light.

Maybe your desired trip just isn't right and you need to change your entire itinerary. Let go, change direction and open yourself up to new ventures.  Maybe you are often held up by others because you’re afraid to travel alone. Take the risk and dive in, you might meet some interesting strangers waiting to be friends or even discover amazing things about yourself.

I've signed up for the challenge.