Quit your job and travel – Just hit the bloody pause button

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I think there’s a war raging somewhere on the internet between travellers. I’ve seen a few updates appearing in my Facebook feed alluding to it. People are upset with those who preach the “quit your cubicle and travel” lifestyle.

Some people don’t want to quit their job to travel so they feel offended.

There’s a problem with this connected world we live in. People take everything personally and get offended way too easily.

woman looking at mountains

Here’s the problem.

People writing about quitting your job to travel the world are writing to people who want to quit their job and travel the world. Their intended audience are people who detest their jobs, feel lost, and are looking for deeper meaning. They haven’t found it in a job yet.

It’s absolutely not the truth for everyone.

But, they’re not writing for everyone. They’re writing to their tribe who relate to those pains and problems and are offering them a solution. They’re speaking in a language the tribe understands – the cubicle sucks, go leave it.

We seek out tribes of like-minded people in every aspect of our lives. It’s how we feel safe and understood and perhaps a little more courageous to go after the life we yearn for based upon our ideals and values.

I left my teaching job because I woke up every morning to an alarm and said, “Oh fuck.” I greeted every single day that I’ll never experience again in the same way. It was tortuous and soul destroying and impacted everyone around me, including the children I was teaching. If I’m not living a life of travel, I feel as if I’m slowly dying – there’s nothing else, including a job (apart from this blog) that fulfills me.

When I talk from that perspective on this blog, I’m talking to people who feel the same way so they know somebody gets their pain and they too can find a way out.

I’m not talking to people who love their job. I’m not saying that loving a job is bad and the only worthwhile life is one where you leave it all behind.

I’m saying a worthwhile life is one where you follow a path that makes you happy.

Pause. Reflect. Choose.

woman

The internet is a world of no boundaries. Anyone can click a link, or press a stumble button, and come across a post talking about the best life being one where you travel the world, sleep on couches, and work little.

Some connect and subscribe. Some don’t jive with the vibe and click away. Some get offended and start creating memes and posts about how sick of reading this crap they are.

Maybe don’t read it.

Pause. Reflect on the fact you stumbled into the wrong room and choose a different one.

A person who has quit their job, and created a successful and happy life travelling the world, is not being irresponsible by encouraging and teaching others how to do it. If they’ve created something others desire, there’s nothing wrong with helping to light up a path for their fellow tribe members.

Those who are following and considering quitting their job to leap into travel also have to hit the pause button.

Wait. Is this what I really want? Why do I want it? What are the sacrifices? What’s the possible long term ramifications of this? Can I make it work? How can I make it work? What’s my back up plan?

Don’t just blindly jump. Know how deep the waters are.

Pause. Reflect. Research. Due diligence. Responsible choice. Own it.

Read More: How do you know what bliss to follow? My 8 step plan

The old way of tribing

Find your tribe

It’s not like the old days when to hear your tribe speak you actually walked into a bookstore and purchase a book or magazine that was your tribe. Or, actually hung out with them on long bike rides!

Now we have multiple tribes arriving into our lives daily. We’ve handed control over to Facebook to manage it all for us and then get the shits when we read things we don’t suit our vibe.

Facebook has not stolen our ability to filter, to pause, to click away, to choose something that better suits.

“Oh, they’re talking about quitting their jobs to travel. Well, it’s not really my thing so I’ll just hop on over to the next blog post and see what they say. Oh look,they’re talking about how to travel with a job you like. Oh cool, this is more like me. I’ll hang out here instead.”

Pretty simple.

The problem lies in not pausing

people jumping in the air holding hands
Photo: Shutterstock

Not pressing the pause button. It’s how internet bitch fights happen, wars rage, and 50 people get shot down in a nightclub because they like kissing someone of the same sex.

Who the fuck cares? He loves a boy. She loves a girl. He loves a girl. She loves a boy. It’s all love.

He loves the cubicle. She loves nomadic travel. They love expat travel. He loves resort travel. It’s all love.

Love the different shades of love. How are the choices of somebody else really hurting the person looking from the outside in?

There’s a reason why it’s a good idea for America to tighten their gun laws, not because guns are the problem, but because people have problems hitting the bloody pause button. A gun is the wrong thing to have in the hands of irrational and irate people who don’t have the ability to pause.

The ability to pause is something we all struggle with. Most of us aren’t at that level where the resulting action will be the firing off of an AR15, but not being able to pause can still lead to the destruction of self and others.

Pressing the pause button is something I’m doing my best to practice more each day. I pause when it comes time to writing posts like this. Sometimes it takes me days or weeks before I decide whether there’s a purpose to it other than me just reacting.

I pause when it comes time to purchase a new dress. Perhaps this might not be the best choice, I’ll wait and, after the pause, decide if it’s impulse or value alignment buy.

My business coach recently gave me the pause advice when I reacted to yet another email arriving into my inbox to tell me what a scumbag I am. I retorted with a scathing reply that left me feeling pretty unhappy with myself – once the thrill of revenge had worn off.

“Caroline, next time you receive an email like this (cause let’s face it you will) I want you to pause. Wait 24 hours until you respond.”

Sometimes it means I have to tape my bloody hands the desk because I have something witty to spit back, but the pause gives space for good sense to return. Often times I do write the post or the email, just so I can feel good, and then I hit pause before sending. It’s that pause that saves me from losing face and disconnecting from my values.

We’re all going to read something we don’t agree with or don’t like. We’re so inundated with information it’s easy for things that aren’t relevant to our values to appear in our streams. It’s okay to disagree and dislike, but, it’s up to us to recognize we’re just in the wrong room and to make the choice to leave without comment or taking offence.

Know your vibe and tribe and stick to it

Family travel tribe

Want to quit your job to travel the world? Go for it. Want to help people leave the cubicle because you believe its the best thing ever? Go for it. There are plenty of people who want you to help them.

Want to find a way to fit travel in with the life and the job you love? Go for it. I love that you have a job you love. I think it’s the ultimate goal for everyone because work is something we all gotta do and we spend a lotta hours doing it, why not love it? Why not lap up the security and benefits of it and use that to create travel experiences you love? The truth is you probably have more scope to travel with a steady paycheck than most quitting their jobs. And let’s face it jobs keep the society evolving and rolling and there’s a lot of good that happens in the world because of them.

Want to travel with your kids full time? Go for it. Want to only do it two times a year because being with your kids full-time for longer lengths of time drives you freaking insane? Do it. There’s no point in the family unit falling apart because 24/7 just does not suit your vibe.

Love what you do and do what you love.

But don’t put your cranky pants on because someone else loves something different and follows that and then writes about it for other people who also love it. People need tribes and those writing about a particular lifestyle are building strong tribes and helping people feel accepted, understood and loved.

Filter and hit the pause button before reaction or retaliation, or before bitching and moaning, because the bitching and moaning might simply be a case of “Oopsie, I think I’ve just walked into the wrong room. I might just back out now and find the right one.”

What’s the point of hanging out with a room full of squirrels if you’re a sloth? All that frantic movement will drive you crazy. Choose to sloth out with your tribe instead.

Let’s ride to the mountain together in our own way

A snow covered mountain

I hate Harley Davidson motorbikes. I know I know. Internet war number 5 now starts raging. Sorry, it’s just my thing. My experience of it, from the outside looking in, is that they cause me a whole lotta noise pollution and angst when one drives past. My insides curl up and I want to stuff a sock in their exhaust and crawl in a quiet hole.

I do, however, find the Harley Davidson tribe fascinating and happy for them to follow their bliss.

But, imagine if I found myself on a Harley Davidson blog and got pissed off because the author was talking about The Independence Pass being the most incredible bike ride in the US. And I was thinking, bullshit, the only way to do it is in a car.

I didn’t hit pause and then created a meme about how offensive Harleys are and then wrote posts about how tired I am of articles saying that cruising around on a Harley is the way to go because I actually LOVE my car. I don’t want to give up my car to ride a Harley.

That’s just so totally INSANE.

I’ll stay in my car, you stay on your Harley, and I’ll race you to the top! First one there pops the champagne because, regardless of how we both got up here, we had a wild ride that suited our vibe, and we get to share the same incredible views at the end.

Now we have different stories to share when we roast smores later that night.

It’s not better or worse, it’s just different.

Pause. Let’s get along with our different stripes. Peace.

Share it if you love it! Pinnable image below

snow covered mountains

66 thoughts on “Quit your job and travel – Just hit the bloody pause button”

  1. I worked in Enterprise digital marketing until recently and the push for large scale B2C products is to make the filtering decisions for people – to put the things in front of them that they want to see. The marketing dream of precision targeting is not there yet, which is why your post is needed. People shouldn’t expect FB or any other algorithm to keep everything that is distasteful away from their eyes. I think we are all trying to figure out our place in a rapidly changing world. Some people have found an answer in travel and want to share that joy. I guess those who find that irritating haven’t found their place yet. I agree they should focus their energy on finding their niche rather than hanging out where they don’t find joy.

    1. Thanks for sharing your experience, Jen. It will be wonderful when that precision targeting algorithm is perfected. It does take a lot of conscious awareness to realise you’re in the wrong place and click away. The ego can be very quick to take over and find ways to feed your pain and frustrations.

    2. I think you just said everything. “Some people have found an answer in travel and want to share that joy. I guess those who find that irritating haven’t found their place yet. ” This is exactly what I think. I confess I haven’t found my place yet but I can be happy for these people who did.

  2. Hi there , you have the right attitude about life your travels have shown you and your children so much on how the other live .It is sad to see people being so unkind to each other especially social media but it is here to stay .I wish you all the very best in your endeavors

    1. Social media can bring out the best in people, but also the worst. The computer screen gives some people permission to bring out the ugly. But, I think learning to pause can help common sense return.

  3. Very interesting. I must admit you write from your heart. Keeping it honest. It is not easy to let go the boring 9 – 5 day job and go full time travelling. That does not mean travelling is bad and working in the cubicle is better. Me a person loves travelling, my travel funding comes from the cubicle job. And it pays for my mortgage and keeps the wheels spinning. The smart thing for me to do is to strike a balance. And not envy someone who is doing travelling full time (my dream as well some day).

    1. Well said Ganesan – Agree with you. Really is about perspective and different values. Which we all have. Gosh if we were all the same how boring would it be!

    2. Both lifestyles require different approaches and values and neither is easy. I travelled for nearly 15 years because of my teaching job. It allowed me to work in other countries. I couldn’t have done it otherwise and I loved the security it gave me and the opportunities.

      Now I travel relying on my own ability to create income and it’s so hard. It’s so scary and uncertain and I really miss having that security and stability. I wouldn’t go back to my teaching job, but I’d never say never, in case another job that I loved appeared.

  4. I didn’t leave my job. I just found another one or rather it found me. When my husband and I decide to go cruising in. 26 foot sail boat with our two year old daughter, I wrote up the challenges and the horrors and the giggles of the first day at sea. Had it already to send to a magazine with the picture of me at the helm! But I didn’t know who to send it to. I had chosen the magazines, but I doubted that a cold call would get it published, so I filed it away, as we hauled the boat out for maintenance. I was scraping the bottom of the boat and trying to watch the 2 year old at the same time. I had her on a long lead: long enough to run around, but not long enough to fall into the water. Meanwhile some man was taking pictures of us and I was getting very nervous.

    Finally, he came up to me and said, ” you’re probably wondering why I’m taking pictures. Let me introduce myself. I’m the editor of Motor Boating and Sailing and ” I stopped him right there and scurried up the ladder and got my article and sold it to him on the spot!

    It turned out that he was doing a story of cruising families with children and I became an instant correspondent!

    1. Such an amazing story Lucy!!! Thank you for sharing that. I have goosebumps. These sorts of stories float my boat (excuse the pun!) Life is so synchronistic and magical.

  5. I think you said it best … people/blogs are targeting different set of readers .. internet bashing starts when we start to disrespect peoples opinion and beliefs .. If it doesn’t work for you then just leave the page .. and settle with the thought that it works for them, not for me ..

    Maybe on the other side it worka for them, might work for me.

    1. Yeah it makes so much sense to me to just leave the post. It’s why I don’t read home design blogs and things. It just doesn’t relate to my life, doesn’t mean it’s not valuable to someone else!

  6. I’m one of those 9-5 working traveler bloggers. When I grew up, my family had a tough go of things. We were constantly moving and money was tight. So when I became an adult, for me feeling calm is having a place to call home and knowing I can afford my obligations through my job. I bought my first condo at 23, using all of my round-the-world-trip money I had been saving. I later sold that condo and bought a 2 bedroom one. I like having a space that I can come home to and a place for my dog to lounge around. My new place is much larger that I’m going to rent out my spare bedroom to afford 2 international trips a year. I was lucky to find a job that allows unlimited vacation (within reason) and it is a chill place to work for that I enjoy coming into work every day. I also use to be very shy and am still slightly introverted, that for me a long trip would be too exhausting and make me anxious. I like having a set deadline to come home and know that my comfy bed and pup are waiting for me. It helps me stay excited and positive while traveling, as I know I need to savor my time traveling. But I know this method is right for me, and I have no issues with those who have been able to travel longer and I actually love reading about their experiences. The only thing that annoys me is when those type of travelers look down upon my style of travel and say I’m a “tourist” because I only go to some places for a short period of time, that I cannot really experience a place without living there for a long time. Instead we should just band together in our common interest of traveling and not look down on each other for what works for ourselves. That is why I love your post, its about why you love this style of travel. Not why it is better than others, but because it works for you.

    1. I so agree with you. I wrote a post years ago, which I dug out for you which says the same thing https://www.ytravelblog.com/the-best-way-to-travel/

      There’s nothing wrong with being a “tourist” I like this way of travelling myself sometimes. It can often lead to richer travel experiences because you have more resources to go deeper and experience more. Lots of times as a long-term traveller I missed out on a lot because I was skimping and trying to make my money go further.

      Travel, no matter the form, can bring much joy to those experiencing the travel and those they impact because of the travel. It’s all worthwhile.

      I’m considering taking my girls on a guided tour lately as well. There are places, like India, I don’t feel comfortable travelling independently with my kids. There are many people that would slam me and look down upon me because of that. But, I’m not afraid to admit my fears and discomforts. Taking a tour would help me feel better, it would mean we could enjoy the trip way more, and I can still expose my children to an exotic and amazing culture, they otherwise might miss out on.

      Everything has its place.

      I love how you’ve created a space you love and a job that fits with your lifestyle too btw!

  7. Yes! We all need to give ourselves permission to just be ourselves and not feel the need to attack others because what floats their boat scares us. Sure there are things I think I should like, like traveling the world with my family in tow, but honestly I love my home and routine just as much, because that’s who I am. I also like to switch it up a couple times a year. We can all be much happier if we just let ourselves be who we truly are and let others do the same and just marvel at what other people like. In Japan there is a saying 10 people, 10 colours which is essentially everyone is different. And yes, always Pause. I love reading this blog Caz cause it’s inspirational. I might never do what you and your family do but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it vicariously! Keep doing what you do!

    1. I think you nailed it with this ‘We can all be much happier if we just let ourselves be who we truly are and let others do the same and just marvel at what other people like.”

      Giving yourself permission to be who you are is hard to do which is why people take offense too easily. Love that Japanese saying!

  8. Brilliant! So agree that we all need the pause button sometimes. And I often find that even if I’m reading or watching something that’s not for me (i.e. not my tribe), I can still find some kernel of wisdom to take away. We can all learn things from each other! Happy travels!

  9. I love this article! We spent six months living in Bangkok last year with our toddler and absolutely loved it. When we got home though, we were met with so many people who just expected us to say how much we were glad to be home, which we weren’t. People just get so offended when what you love is different to their own vibe. We ourselves have had to learn to pause when talking to people about our lives and what is important to us, until we can feel what their vibe is and how they might react to our totally different view. This way we don’t walk away from a conversation frustrated or having offended someone. Also for the record, I can’t stand Harley’s either 🙂

    1. I understand this so much Susan. I too learned to pause and stop sharing many of our travel stories because I couldn’t handle the reaction anymore. I realised people didn’t really care and they did feel so offended. We had an awful time with many people getting angry and upset with us because our choices to travel made them feel like we were attacking them or not loving them in some way. It was an awful period. But, I know how to handle it better now.

  10. I love this post. I’m one of those 9-5, part-time travellers (which is where I got the name for my blog). While I do have days where I sit at the office, wanting to just run out of there they are not all that frequent (and when they get that way I find a new job to keep me stimulated lol). In all honesty I think it’s great if people want to sell everything they own and travel around the world every day. I don’t think it’s for me. I love having some sort of schedule and always being busy. I love being able to look forward to a vacation and enjoy every damn minute of it because – well – I earned it! I also love the money, security and benefits that come with a full-time job. I’m not knocking people who travel full time but I just don’t think it’s for me. That’s why I try and cater my blogs to the other half who feel the same 😉 Great post!

    1. Looking forward to a vacation!! I love that. I was only thinking last Friday, because we hadn’t travelled all week and had been hard at work in the office, come Friday I felt this surge of happiness and celebration. Yay it’s Friday. When I was younger, Friday was the day for all of our friends to hang out because we’d finished the working week and it was such a joyful feeling. It was so nice to feel that again. You feel like you’ve earned the weekend. I really do miss that when I travel all the time because the days can just run into each other and you have no pause to reflect on how you just lived the past week.

  11. Oh wow! You just completely nailed what I’ve been thinking. I did leave the cubicle and it works for us. It’s not for everyone. I know that I gave up my pension (no need to lecture, I have moments of panic). Why is everyone so freakin’ reactive all the time? If we could just pause a moment and realize that not every article, post, or bit of information is directed at us, we could just move on. Sharing this post EVERYWHERE. (And maybe some people will stop lecturing about my choice lol)

    1. No pension happening in my world either Jenna I can freak out a little about that. I can only focus on the fact that I’m building an empire through this blog that will serve as my pension!!!

      Thank you for sharing. I think those who don’t feel doubt, insecurity and unhappiness rarely lecture others on their choices. They’re more excited to hear about them!

  12. It’s quite easy, really. Do whatever makes you happy. Don’t judge anyone based on their life decisions. So please don’t judge me. My priorities are not your priorities, and your life is not my life. I am happy for anyone who likes to travel the world 24/7. I have made the decision that this is not for me nor my family. I am happy for anyone who can do it and be happy with it, but I can get pretty annoyed if these people turn it into a religion, degrading my own decisions and experiences. On my blog I want to prove that travel can be just as valuable when you do it during your annual leave or on weekends. I even may claim at times that the time you do travel can be enjoyed in a deeper way, a bit like condensed soup. For me, it’s the contrast between ordinary life and travel life that heightens my travel experiences. But you may disagree. And that’s totally ok. Just be happy and enjoy life to the fullest because this is not a rehearsal!

    1. I so agree. Travel is valuable in every form. No one way is better than the other. We all have our preferences but as long as everyone is fostering their sense of curiosity and wonder then travel is serving its purpose.

      I was interviewed yesterday about family travel and spoke about cruises. Even though cruises are quite the manufactured experience, I find them hugely valuable for stressed out families who just want to go away, do nothing, have everything done for them, and reconnect as a family.

  13. You are so right! Just pause before you act, whether it’s reading something or posting something. That might save us all a lot of heartache and make the world a little gentler place. Thanks!

    1. I feel like I’m pausing multiple times every day! there have been many times I’ve written a Facebook update and then quickly gone back a minute later to delete it. Oops, should have paused a wee bit longer!

  14. Haters gonna hate… Some people just CANNOT – WILL NOT – mind their own business! There’s a solution for all that but hurt. It’s called “unfollow” and then go mind your own business. I for one, really appreciate all that you share. Thank you!

  15. Hi Caz,
    Loved reading this post thoroughly. More so because of the lucidity with which you explained the ‘pause effect.’ I guess the instant posts on Facebook and the reactions they gain have managed to strip away the common sense from us. You are so right that we take everything personally these days, may be the reason is our personal space has become more public and sharing everything has become mandatory. The virtual friend list and the number of likes we get matters to us more than the physical attributions of our existence. By the way, I hate Harleys too because of the insane noise they create. But I do love the way the riders enjoy their ride on it 🙂
    It’s the way we react to ourself that counts a lot and helps us to decide how we are going to react to other people’s comments. I have experienced it in my personal life too that pausing and giving some time (though it seems insanely difficult at the moment when a nasty comment pops us to not respond instantly) to a certain nonsense comment always keeps my mind and soul at peace later. After all when we spit back, we do it ourself and destroy a little bit of our own sanity. Great read again and keep writing!!
    Thanks

    1. “The personal space has become more public and sharing everything has become mandatory. The virtual friend list and the number of likes we get matters to us more than the physical attributions of our existence.”

      I love this Milanie, it is so true and it takes a lot of consciousness on my behalf to not get caught up in that as well.

      Those first initial minutes after the spit back feel so good, but you come crashing down quite quickly soon after and can actually despise yourself for being so vicious. It’s way better to forgo that initial glee to actually feel better about your spirit in the long run

  16. Great article. Three years ago we hit the ” Oh Shit another day ” working in the corp world we decided to take a senior gap year. Three years plus on we live the dream wake up each morning ” Yea ” .. and yes you a right our dreams are not for all, our changes we make are not for all. Know that your tribe will change and do not try to change your tribe members. Sure challenge those that are in ” Oh shit another day ” by reflecting your day so that it might inspire them to love themselves.. Finally when the overwhelm occurs do this .. STOP. BREATHE. RELAX. DECIDE. STOP means STOP !!

  17. I love reading stories about how people were brave enough to just say: F* this, I’m out of here! No one should judge people for their own decisions (as long as they don’t harm someone else by it), see them as an inspiration if you want to do the same thing. If you don’t, then just take a look at where they have been, it might be an excellent tip for a next holiday (of max 3 weeks before you return to corporate life)! I work, and I travel, it can be combined. But I do have to say, you don’t find a lot of work-travel combination blogs, so I created my own blog 🙂 https://nomadicblissblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/tips-tricks-for-a-working-traveller/ Internet, Facebook, … you have the freedom of what you want to read.

    1. Great blog Karen and perfect market. Most people do want to travel in between the work or combine them both! That’s how we prefer to do it.

  18. Love your comments! My brother and his wife live in the California desert. Every year around April or May, they start to get into a funk because of the upcoming dreadfully hot summer temps. They loathed moving from one air conditioned structure to another for 3 months. Finally last year, they decided to pack up and get out of town for the entire summer. They chose Prague upon the recommendation of a friend. This summer is the second year they are spending in Prague where they are continuing to soak in the culture and take their 7 year old daughter to museums, castles, festivals, etc. that none of them would have ever experienced! Their decision to do something about their frustration (for them it was the unbearable heat) has ignited so much joy into their lives! What a wonderful start to a family tradition!

  19. Packing bags and leaving home soon lol lovely read and this is so true if one is always on the go when will they have time to smell the roses, swim in the ocean or just enjoy the sunset? Lovely read

  20. Awesome post!!! What a waste of life, where people are so bitter, they spend their life miserable by being judgemental. I feel the same as you, concerning the subject of other’s choices.
    I’ve recently disposed of all my belongings, except for my car & what would fit in it and have embarked on an adventure of travel with very little money. Some of my kids & friends don’t understand my choice, but the choice is mine. Since then (two & a half weeks ago) I have driven over 2,000 miles and am loving every minute of it :).
    I am also entering the 2016 Aspiring Travel Writer Scholarship, in which I found the link here on your blog Caz. Thank you for being honest & candid with your posts, they are very inspiring.
    Happy Travels,
    DianiaLee
    P.S. I absolutely love Harley’s and have different opinions on gun control here in the U.S. Just thought I’d let your readers’ know that it’s ok it have different opinions, lifestyles, etc and still resonate with each other.

    1. I’m so happy you’ve entered that competition – it’s such a great one! Good on you for taking on such an amazing adventure. If your heart is happy, you can’t lose.

      Totally okay to have different opinions and still get along! I have a few friends who disagree with me on quite controversial issues yet we can still sit around the campfire discussing them and joking around about it. I know many who won’t even sit in the same room with someone who they disagree with. It’s crazy

  21. Love this!
    I recently quit my job to travel for a bit and am now looking to get a job again back home and the other day someone asked me if quitting my job to go see the world was worth all the work I’m doing now to find another job. I think they meant it in a snide way, so it was funny to see their face when I said that it absolutely was! There is so much judgement and resentment, when all I really did was take a career break that I worked hard to make happen. It’s silly!
    You’re right people should just let others live their best life and be happy for other’s accomplishments. It might not be your cup of tea, but someone else is living their dream and thats beautiful!

    1. Good for you for replying that it was worth it. Sometimes those snide remarks can trap us into the need to defend ourselves. If you just show how much you own your decision and love it, it will silence them immediately.

  22. I just wanted to say how truly inspirational I found this post. Not only does it carefully and respectfully reflect on recent news, it also incorporates personal feeling to a level I didn’t know was possible in a blog post.

    Me and my buddy Scott are heading off on our travels next January and, luckily for us, we hit the pause button in September 2015 to ensure it’s what we wanted. Here we are, almost a year later and we’ve got our own backpacking blog and couldn’t be more stoked about our upcoming trip (where will be quitting our jobs to travel – so boring right?).

    As I’ve said, I’ll be taking plenty of inspiration from this and just wanted to let you know.

    All the best – Kyle 🙂

    1. So awesome Kyle! You’ll have the most amazing adventure. I’m so happy you took the time to evaluate whether it was right for you. Now you know you won’t go wrong and so many doors will open up for you. I’m excited for you.

  23. Caz,
    Greetings from Samoa. I truly enjoy reading your blog, for me reading about the life that you and your family love and the life you have created inspires me plus it gives an insight as to the world that I didnt know existed, so please keep on blogging 🙂 From where I am standing, I say ignore the haters, plus I like this idea about hitting the pause button need to try that out for myself. Happy travels!!!

  24. This is such a fascinating issue for me. What causes people to get so negative about something that doesn’t actually impact them in any way? I understand how we have been conditioned for immediate response/gratification so people find it very hard to “hit the pause button” but a respectful response with a different point of view shouldn’t be that difficult. Maybe it takes too long to create that type of response instead of a quick “You’re wrong and stupid!”. I don’t know.

    1. It could be Cheri. I don’t know either. I think it could be some people don’t feel secure in their own decisions so feel they need to defend or attack in order to feel better about it. As someone mentioned above I think giving yourself permission to be who you are removes a lot of that.

  25. Amen.

    Pausing and taking a time out is such an important component to everything we do in life, be it, relationships, friendships, etc. Pausing is something that actually saved my relationship with my partner because when you’re arguing in the heat of the moment, real nasty things are bound to come out. Now we’ve learnt to pause, walk away and talk about it when we have both composed ourselves and reflected on our irrational anger. Imagine what a beautiful world we would live in if everyone learnt how to pause?

  26. I know Caroline, right? I often wonder why folks take the time to write a scathing note, comment, email, whatever…to someone who is talking about something that is different from what they want. I like the “hitting the pause button” analogy. Take a deep breath people. However, sometimes, I think it may be defensive behavior. Some people do feel stuck in a job they don’t like, maybe a relationship they don’t like, and feel a bit threatened by people showing them that there is in fact, a way to change their lives. Because, as you state so well, it would take effort and a re-examination of one’s values, and that can be very painful for many people.
    I appreciate the premise of your post. Not being reactive, and instead taking the time to think things through, can go a long way to making for a happier life, and a happier world.

  27. Thanks for the post! I totally agree that when something angers us hitting the “pause button” can be so productive. Not only to calm our responses on the internet but also in person as well. I love that you separated issues that many people lump together and get angry about. I needed to see a post like this for my own life! I was just a little shocked and saddened that you referenced the Orlando shooting and the United States gun laws. Regardless of what side of this issue you are on(which it sounds like we are on the same side), it a much bigger and more complicated issue than, I feel, you have laid out. I totally see why you included it, but it really bummed me out and distracted from the rest of the article for me. I admire your passion and if you feel you need to speak about it, maybe have it in a separate post? Just a suggestion that would have helped me. Feel free to email me if you want clarification, I like to think I constructive!

    1. Thanks Megan. I see what you’re saying and respect it, it’s a contentious topic. But from my perspective, I really don’t think it’s that complicated. I think it’s made to be that way. I don’t want to speak about Orlando or gun control, the side I want to speak from is the pause. The pause is the space in between, which Eckart Tolle and Wayne Dyer and other spiritual teachers talk about. The space in between, or the pause, is the place of sanity – which we all have access to, simply by taking a deep breath and pausing and reconnecting to source.

      The purpose of mentioning Orlando and gun laws briefly was to emphasize that if every person took a pause and lived from that space in between – the world of pure love and peace, no one would act irrationally. There would be no hatred, no wars, and no need for guns or gun control. The origination of all horrific acts like that (Orlando is just recent) comes from disconnecting from the space in between – from sanity and from love. People who have the ability to pause don’t do those things. So I do believe it’s that simple and it’s the side I’ll always speak from. Sure, it’s Utopia kind of dreaming,but why stop speaking about sanity and simplicity because other people want to complicate things? I’ll let people smarter than me lead those conversations and I’ll keep talking about pauses and spaces in between, meditating, practicing love and peace and eating mung beans. As Ganhdi says, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” and look how he managed to bring about peaceful reform.I feel I can help the greater purpose more by reminding people to pause.
      I appreciate you sharing even though we disagree on this point. It’s always great to hear other perspectives to help you think a little deeper about your own.

  28. My job is on my computer. My desk is wherever I am (it’s generally my lap.)

    I love people telling me I can’t earn a living and continue to gallavant. Or that I can’t buy a house and travel. Ummm watch me!

    I work to travel. To explore. To experience.

    I build my life and my career around my adventures. I’m loving that I can have a rewarding career, loving boyfriend, goals of investing in my future and still see so many amazing places.

    Travel is a part of me. It’s not something I do. I live for it!

  29. I do get my back up with bloggers who have the you should quit everything to travel the world/live your dreams NOW (or you are lazy, pathetic, unmotivated). Everyone is coming from a different place, with different responsibilities. I wanted to travel full time for years but I waited until my son left home. So much better to wait sometimes than do things now!

    Also, I hate the assumption that anyone under 18 is just a generic kid. Whether you are on the side of saying it’s easy to pack and travel with kids or the never, ever do it team, it’s laying down a blanket rule without taking into consideration that not all kids are the same.

    Pausing is a great thing to do. So is quitting. I used to read blogs that would get me livid then I realised, why read them at all?

  30. I guess I needed that 😀 I was feeling so annoyed of everyone writing the same stuff about traveling. And about people who think luxury style is the only good way of traveling. So yes, I should hit pause, concentrate on what I like and ignore what annoys me. There enough people out there, right?

  31. Great post! For us it al comes back to these simple words:
    LIVE YOUR LIFE!
    We are happy travellers with a job, which works for us. However we still enjoy reading blogs of those who quit their jobs and commit to full-time travel, in fact almost all the blogs we do read are from full-time travellers….. No envy, no just respect for their decisions, and usually they are an awesome inspiration.

    We will be using some of your tips, when we are embarking on our epic 7 week road trip to WA 😉

    Keep up the good work!

  32. I did just this a couple of months ago. Still trying to find my bearings abroad but I’m not that worried about it, because I’m so happy right now. I’m living exactly the life I want to live. And I think in the long run, I’ll end up exactly where I’m supposed to be and not a square peg in the 9-5 round hole.

  33. I love this post Caz and totally agree! I’m all for different ways of travelling, at different times of life. When I graduated, I did a lot of solo cheap, I’ll-sleep-on-the-bus travel, and it was great. Now I’m a corporate professional, married, and with a tween so my travel style now is different. When I travel with my German husband in tow, we bring out the champagne, when I travel solo (and I still do on long weekends!), I go boutique, and when I travel only with tween son, we go to hostels, rent a private room, and take the train around Europe!

    My readers are a mixed bunch but most are professionals with higher incomes, and either European or American, who don’t want, or need, to quit anything at all!

    I advocate for freedom of speech and thought, and living the way you want to. There is no best way to travel. Just different.

  34. Love your posts Caz! Always make me think a lot. I am a teacher. I’ve always wanted to travel to Europe. But I have a little baby girl so… After read this, I think it’s time to hit pause and concentrate on what I really want and like. Thank you for writing this!

  35. Thanks for writing this wonderful article! I am an internet marketer so I can live anywhere as long as there’s a computer. But I never did that before. After reading this, I think it’s time to change! Now I am packing my bag and going to train station, wish me good luck Caz. Thanks again!

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