16 really important things I learned this year

It has been an incredible year. I travelled to incredible places, swam with turtles, watched the sunset over the Stockholm Archipelago, ate amazing food, met incredible people and, on many occasions, laughed until I cried. I also overcame some big challenges and negativity, taking something positive out of each experience. To pay tribute to an incredible year, here are 16 really important things I learned, along with some of my favourite photos from the past 12 months.

Planning your trip?
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Hotels, I use Agoda
Insurance: Cover-More
Rentals: Discover Cars
RVs: Motorhome Republic
Transfers: Welcome Pickups
Travel eSIM: Simify

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1. There’s a lot of power in the truth

I’ve written quite a few personal posts this year, and there were a few I nearly didn’t publish because I was scared people would think I was weird. But, each time, those posts have had more comments than any others, with many saying, “I feel the same way.” It’s pushed me to share the truth more and each time I do, I’m overwhelmed with the truth it brings out in others. In turn, I feel like I’m finding the power to be myself and not be scared or ashamed of any parts of myself.

2. Don’t let anyone tell you what you are

As always, this year presented a fresh set of challenges. One of the biggest was having a few people tell me they didn’t like something I was doing, writing or creating. In one instance, I became really sad and shut off for a few days, totally defeated. It’s easy to take the negativity on board and change what you do out of sadness and shame. It’s harder and infinitely more rewarding to say, “No. I like what I’m doing and I know it’s right,” and keep doing it with your head held high. It took me a few goes to learn this one, but now, I’m more confident than ever that what I’m doing is right for me.

3. Cats are truly magical creatures

This year I lost a lovely older cat, and it was a really sad time. It also gave me the chance to take a moment and appreciate just how special animals are, and to make sure my remaining little one knew how much she was loved.

4. Trust what you know to be true

The challenges of this year have helped me connect more with my inner voice. Now, more than ever, I feel in tune with my heart and the goals and dreams it whispers to me. I’m not afraid of them or sad because I don’t have them yet. I trust, implicitly, that if I just keep listening to it and following what I know to be true, everything will work out perfectly.

5. I still hate camping

Look, each year I try to get into it, and I really did give it a crack again this year but I still hate it.

6. Things always work out

One of the most challenging learning curves of building a business around travel has been around money. I went from a guaranteed paycheck on a fixed date and built my life around that certainty. Now, there are no guarantees of any kind. It used to be terrifying, especially when the bank account would get to dangerously low levels and the temptation to dip into savings would become all too real. Yet, each time, a new job would come in or a payment would land at exactly the right moment. It has taught me that things always work out.

7. It’s important to clear out the crap

Be it clothing you never wear, old furniture, bad friends, clutter, mental blocks or bad energy, it’s important to clear the crap out of your life. Doing so makes room for the new to spring to life. I’ll be doing a whole lot of clearing out over the end of year break in preparation for the new year. So, ask yourself, “What can I get rid of?”

8. Trust the timing of your life

A few years ago the Little Grey Box blog was the only thing I could see and the only thing I was committed to building. It was the core of my business, my future and my dreams. At the time, I wanted to see the bigger picture and beyond the blog but I couldn’t. Now, I clearly see the blog as one piece of a much bigger puzzle. I’m certain I still don’t see the full picture, but I see more than before. You can’t rush things but you can trust the timing of your life because everything happens at the precisely right moment.

9. You don’t have to do things the way people say you should

I remember reading loads of guides offering me advice on how to grow YouTube channel and website. While the advice was sound, a lot of it just didn’t feel right to me. So, there are many things I just haven’t bothered with, and, you know what, it feels good. There isn’t one right way to do things; there are so many variations. It’s important to learn and listen, but it’s also important to do what’s right for you, not just what people tell you to do.

10. I love my body

I’ve spent years hating on myself. This year I made a big effort to change my self-hating mindset. It wasn’t easy; I had to work really hard to be kind to myself and accept myself for what I am. Now, I feel really appreciative of my body and have cut out a lot of the negativity and self-doubt. I love my body, I’m thankful for it, and I’m proud of myself top to toe.

11. It’s okay to say you don’t know

There was a time I would never admit if I didn’t understand something or didn’t know what something was because I was embarrassed or thought someone would think of less me. Truth is, I was denying myself a valuable opportunity to learn something. Now, even when I’m face-to-face with someone, if I don’t understand or don’t know what something is, I tell them and ask them what it is. I come away from the moment having learned something new and a quick lesson in humility.

12. Always be thankful

I’ve found myself in a few situations this year with people who have been quite negative. I have the most incredible life and am afforded amazing opportunities, so it is almost unbelievable that anyone could be negative in such wonderful travel situations. Yet, some people are. It served as an important mirror, reminding me that it is imperative to be thankful for each opportunity and, more importantly, to always say thank you to the people who work so hard to make these moments possible.

13. Treat people with respect

I’ve also seen some appalling behaviour throughout the year, particularly where people treat those serving them with a distinct lack of respect. I have a friend who says, “You can always tell what someone’s really like by the way they treat service staff,” and I agree wholeheartedly. I’ve always been polite but this year I learned your actions can say more about you than you realise and it is very easy to be extra kind, patient and appreciative when dealing with service staff. Treat everyone you meet with respect.

14. Less is more

Before all these big changes in my life, I used to feel like fancy meals and expensive clothes were a sign of achievement and happiness. Now, I know none of those things matter and less really is more. I absolutely love finding my clothes at thrift stores and get far more enjoyment out of eating a $5 Yiros than a $100 meal. I guess I used to be embarrassed, like enjoying those simple things was a sign of me not being ‘good enough.’ Now I know that’s not the case at all and, as long as you do what makes you feel good, you can’t go wrong.

15. Plastic is really bad

This year I got a real education on the negative impacts of plastic and just how much more I could be doing about the problem. I’ve upped my recycling game and can literally see the difference in the amount of rubbish I take to the bin each week. I say no to single-use plastics where possible, carry reusable bags and put together a small sustainable travel kit to take on the road with me, containing reusable straws, cutlery, chopsticks and more. Once you start looking for all the unnecessary plastic, it is impossible not to see it.

16. Next year is going to be epic!

There are some amazing things lined up for next year and it is already shaping up to be the biggest, most exciting year yet as I work toward a fresh set of goals. I want to take a moment to thank you for all your support this year. I genuinely cannot tell you how much I appreciate everyone who has watched a video, engaged with a photo or visited the website. Thank you for everything you do.

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