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Loving the Passport Hustle Life - Counting Countries & Collecting Passport Stamps!

by Teya Dalton on September 07, 2022

I was on a mission...

to visit 40 countries by the age of 40. I defined visit as leaving the port of entry into said country and enjoying at least 1 meal, because I had to create a base denominator for my country counting and love of food.  

I carried my goal with happiness and high self esteem. So much happiness that happy with my goal and personal mission that I mentioned it to almost everyone I talked to in my 20's and 30's. I opened my proverbial arms and heart to the world, and that is when I felt The Pinch to my ego. 

I met 2 separate people who had already been to over 100 countries... And that little annoying voice in my head chimed in

Damn Girl
👏🏽 Step
👏🏽 Your
👏🏽 Game
👏🏽 Up

 

It took me a few heart beats before I reminded myself of a few things. 

These are MY life goals
And this is not a competition

[... anymore]. So I took inventory. At that moment I had passport stamps from 28 countries, and stories about each one!  At that moment I realized that if I compare myself to anyone else on this highspeed traveling highway that all my travels would be about comparisons and not the good times. So I slowly un-balled my brain as if it were a closed fist and I let those threats of comparison go.  

Here's how conversations about travel started to go on random days in my life:

Me.       Where are you going next?

Friend.  We found a flight to Athens for $210 round trip...

Me.       

Friend.  Yeap...non-stop...

Me.        Ok,  I'm in... But wait, I've been to Greece. Twice.

Friend. ...and we're going to Santorini

My body starts moving without permission but I've learned to live with these involuntary celebrations... lol

Me.       [Dancing to a Salt-N-Pepa song in my head: Ex Press Your Self... Go on and work that body...]  Awe-yeah, Awe-yeah.

 

Friend. [Interrupts my dance break] If you want to go, I have the site open. These dates won't last long.at this price.

Me.      [I snap out of the dance break and pull out my credit card] YES! I'll just add another leg to my trip...

So I got:

  • A second trip to Athens with friends I'd not been to Athens with before
  • A four day add on to Santorini for the very 1st time, and
  • A two night solo trip  to Romania including Bucharest and Transylvania (Another story for another day)

TPH Wrap Up:

Life gives us opportunities to enjoy the moment we are in while we are there. We can make up a LOT of reasons not to enjoy the moment including comparing ourselves or experiences to others.  And since suffering is optional in most circumstances, I choose to enjoy my entire journey. Not just the destination, or the result of going after my goals. But the entire journey. 

And I keep in mind that no passport hustle needs to look like or be compared to another. Just let the rhythm of inspiration move you towards new heights.

 

Santorini Pouch

  

  This was originally posted on www.welive2fly.com in April 2017

   Check out some of our Santorini inspired items 

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