2017 is over and it’s fair to say that it was a rollercoaster year for me. A lot happened and I mean A LOT. I did a video that really briefly covered parts of the year and I’m planning on buying myself a photo book to look back at all the memories. I’ve even included my crash and that isn't exactly the most exciting memory. I've been jokingly asked if 'I found myself' (whatever that means anyway) because of the crash or the trip and the answer is no. Well, not really. The crash didn't change my life, it more just made me think how lucky I was to have survived.
The thing that changed things for me was the first 3.5 weeks of recovery afterwards, the reason being that I had spent that same amount of time travelling. I'd done so much whilst travelling and almost nothing whilst recovering. The lesson I learned was how easy it is to waste time and how much you can do if you really use that time properly. That's not to say I don't still procrastinate, I'm half British after all, but I realised that there's so many experiences I'd love to have and the time I have to do those things could disappear without me even blinking. That's why this year I'm going to work extra hard to have new experiences.
I have a few more responsibilities now (if not tonnes), so it's not as easy as it was during my gap year, but I'm still planning on doing a lot. Some of it’s really simple: (on average) read a book every month, work for the National Citizenship Service again over Summer (pictures are from previous experience) and go vegetarian for a month. Some of it’s a bit more physical: do a Spartan race, lift 150kg for 5x5 on deadlift, maybe even do the 3 peaks challenge.
Then of course there is the travelling: I’m planning on going to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh this year, I might see if I can go skiing in Bulgaria with some mates and I’d love to just do a day-trip somewhere. I might try a proper Guinness in Dublin or visit Amsterdam, I could even have some great food in Copenhagen.
I’ve got some other bits and bobs in mind too, like my volunteering with refugees that I’ve recently started and buying a homeless person food (it’s easy in Newcastle, where there is unfortunately a lot of homelessness). There will inevitably be some other things along the way that I come up with, like a possible day walking round London and taking pictures of strangers.
I guess the point of this post is to a) share my aims for the year so that I have to do them and b) encourage you guys (and myself) to work harder to make the time and take your opportunities so that you can make 2018 a memorable year.
Happy voluntravelling,
Fabian (a.k.a The Voluntraveller)