I got to speak to my Mom today about my plans to leave. I was so worried that she might think I was crazy. I mean, who wouldn’t?

I have Crohn’s, I just had a major operation last year, and I’m paying a fraction of my student loans currently. I’m a freelance writer, which means I make really crappy money, and I’m not thinking about my future by putting off getting my foot in the door of a major company that has benefits, salaried positions, and etc.

But, like she does every so often, my Mom surprised me. She was extremely supportive of my wishes. She’s never been one to shame any of my dreams anyway, but I thought with the development of my disease she might have a few concerns.

She didn’t.

What followed was an outpouring of excitement for the trip. Now I wait. Now I sit back and see if I really follow through with it.

How do you just take the leap? What makes us say goodbye to our comfort zones in search of new places and people? It is crazy, isn’t it? It’s certainly not logical.

My guess is that whatever’s out there looks so much more appealing than what’s right in front of us at home. The thought of staying in the same place all our lives scares us more than the thought of being all alone out in the middle of nowhere, travelling.

To everyone who’s chosen to live this lifestyle: You got balls.