Stepping into the unknown can be terrifying. Especially when it involves bidding farewell to the safety net of a steady job and plunging headfirst into the realm of uncertainty. Sometimes you hit those moments where you’re standing at a crossroads, and the only logical thing to do is to take those dreams off the shelf and give them a whirl into the real world.
Flashback three years, and there I was, picking up the pieces after a burnout. I was seeking solace in the idea of a sabbatical, a chance to hit the pause button. And where better to do that than Japan?
My love affair with the Land of the Rising Sun goes way back. Every fleeting visit felt like a reset—a chance to realign my heart and soul. So, when the idea of a career break arose, Japan was the no-brainer choice. Its culture, its arts, its deep, soul-stirring philosophies—everything about it called out to me in a way that words just can’t capture.
A Dream
Deferred.
Ah, the fickleness of dreams, right? You set your sights on the stars, only for life to chuck a curveball your way. Cue pandemic, stage left. Like so many others, my grand plans of gallivanting across the globe were tossed aside, joining the pile of forgotten aspirations, gathering dust alongside my anxieties and uncertainties.
Instead of chasing sunsets in far-off lands, I found myself plunging headfirst into the safety net of a new full-time gig, hoping to drown out my wanderlust with the familiar humdrum of routine.
But oh, Japan. It lingered in the recesses of my mind like a stubborn memory, refusing to be ignored. Naoshima—the tiny island gem nestled in the Seto Inland Sea—held a special spot in my heart. Its whimsical art installations and tranquil shores had cast a spell on me a decade ago, leaving an imprint of serenity unlike anywhere else. It was a feeling I yearned to reclaim, a memory begging to be revisited.
The eternal dance with dreams—always just out of reach, like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. For years, they lingered on the edges of my consciousness, elusive and fleeting. They were like wisps of fog, drifting in and out of focus, obscured by the ever-present doubts and insecurities that lurked in the corners of my mind.
A Pivotal Push.
It wasn’t until three months ago, as I bid farewell to my full-time job, that I realized it was time to breathe life into these dreams. With nervous fingers and a racing heart, I hovered over the “Book Now” button, contemplating the costs of flights and the daunting prospect of planning a full-blown journey across Japan.
Enter my unsuspecting work friend João, the unsung hero of this tale, who caught me in the act of procrastination – staring into the labyrinth of flight booking websites and indecision. With the subtlety of a sledgehammer, he shattered my hesitation with those four fateful words: “Just GO for it!” And just like that, amid the hum of office chatter, I clicked on that elusive button.
It was then that my dream ceased to just become a figment of my imagination. It became a tangible reality, a blank canvas waiting to be painted with adventures and memories.
But oh, the exhilaration of that moment soon gave way to the sobering realization that I had ventured into unchartered territory. As the initial euphoria faded, the daunting task of planning at 40-day trip loomed large onto the horizon. The mere thought of it filled me with a heady mix of anticipation and anxiety. How would I fill those 40 days? Where would I go? Logistics, accommodations, transportations – all the nitty-gritty details threatened to overwhelm me. Yet amidst the nervousness of pre-planning, there was a spark of excitement – a glimmer of anticipation for the journey ahead.
So here I am, at the crossroads of dreams and reality. The first step had been taken, hurdling over the barrier between dreaming and doing. Naoshima, with its ethereal beauty and calming presence served as a guiding light, a reminder of the how powerful and transformative one’s surroundings can be.
Let the planning begin!
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