This is me a few months ago in China, traveling with twins like a boss! Babe in one arm, bouncing the pram with my knee and sipping a cocktail in downtown Guangzhou.
Excuses
When I quit my soul sucking dull office job, and sold everything I owned to travel around Australia in a camper van people said to me:
“If only I was younger”
“I would love to do something like that”
"Oh to not have kids"
"One day"
When I started my design business and later opened a shop, selling handcrafted wares using recycled materials, I heard the same story. A wishful desire to escape the grind and do something adventurous, but a whole raft of excuses would always follow; mortgage, family, I am not creative enough, maybe when the kids leave home or I pay off my debt.
There is nothing special about me and my circumstances. I do not have substantial savings, I had no prior experience to running my own business and certainly in my wildest dreams never thought I would have twins. Life can throw you surprises. What I have learnt is that it is not always the big decisions and life changes that determine if you reach your dreams or not. It is simply the power of daily small action. The accumulative power of all the little things in life.
Driven by the power of daily action
My life wasn't always so full of life. I used to be one of those people full of excuses, wistfully looking at others traveling the world and working for themselves. I spent years at university working towards a career I ultimately ended up leaving.
One day I simply woke up and realised that my current circumstances were a consequence of a lifetime of tiny thoughts, actions and attitudes. If you change those thoughts, actions and attitudes you can powerfully alter the direction of your life. We all have so much to be grateful for already.
I used to think that in order for me to be able to quit my job and do something I loved, I just needed a really good idea. A brilliant idea is about 1% of it. Taking action on your idea is what sets you on the path to achieving your goal. Set your vision and align even the smallest of steps with this vision and you will drive your life boldly forward. Control your self doubt, that negative inner voice is a real dream killer.
Next time you find yourself enviously looking at someones life wishing you could do that – stop the excuses and instead find one thing you can do right now that puts you one step closer. Then when you wake up tomorrow - do one more thing and so on. You are the captain of your soul.
Own your dreams like the boss that you are.
Traveling with Twins
I always wanted kids, but from the moment I found out I was pregnant with twins, I was determined not to use my children as an excuse for my own life choices. In fact, I want to instil in my daughters a sense of ownership over their lives, not to just accept the status quo. Earlier in the year, my husband and I took the girls to China, Macau and Hong Kong for a family holiday. Travel with babies is not easy. There is sacrifices and adjustments to make but you can do it and have a blast. They might not remember the trip as they grow up but we sure as heck will. It was hard, very hard at times but totally worth it.
There is no perfect time
When I embarked on camper van living – I could easily have used lack of funds as an excuse. I had enough money to last the first seven weeks. I managed to travel around for 10 months, sewing in a tent and selling at markets.
When I opened my shop, I was six months pregnant with twins. I had to close my shop a week after the grand opening and spend the next two months living in a hospital with no income, coping with premature babies. Life is not always roses with the golden sun of opportunity shining down on me.
In my journey to pursue a more creatively fulfilling life, there have been the most wonderful of times and the loneliest, broke times. I would not change any of it. Every little step shapes my future. Do not wait for all the stars to align. There has never been a more perfect time than now to start living the life you want.
I have lots of dreams and goals still to reach. I have been inspired by some of the posts here on Steemit. I am a huge advocate for being courageous and ambitious. Ordinary people can live extraordinary lives. Reading about other peoples journeys, the struggles and triumphs keeps my passion ignited. It gives hope, inspiration and reminds me in darker times, how beautiful life really is. If you can dream it, you really need to Steemit.
Until next time
x Isabella