Battling FOMO & embracing the now

It hit me today (how convenient) how long six weeks really is - not hardly enough time to see what I want but also a long stretch of time to be away from home. 

There’s this intense feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out) lingering, sitting heavy on my chest. By staying or by leaving, I will miss out on certain moments. So, to shake my head from the funk, I’ve come up with five self-challenges to make the most of my time in Europe. 1) Go beyond my comfort zone. Ahhhh this is a toughie. I am a fan of ritual and routine. I want to know what happens next in detailed form, but I’m realizing that beauty and growth can come from disruptions & unexpected moments if I let it. My challenge to myself is to try new things (even weird looking food) and to be open to new experiences even when there runs a risk of failure or disappointment. I’m going to make my fear work for me. There’s a saying that life happens at the end of your comfort zone, so here I am. 2) Write. Write. Write. This is something I tell myself a lot, but I hardly ever follow through with it. I would love to have a detailed recollection of my experiences, but unfortunately, my memory can barely remember what I ate this morning. Writing down notes/thoughts/observations can be a great way to remember what happened and to pinpoint struggles & growth that occurred along the way. My challenge to myself is to intentionally chronicle my journey (but for real this time). 3) Make connections. As a former shy person (who is actually still pretty shy at times), going up to people and introducing myself is a form of personal hell. I would much rather seclude myself in a private room with books and coffee and watch The Office on repeat, but while solitude can be beneficial, I don’t want to isolate myself from the potential of establishing friendships and building community. Therefore, on this trip, I’m making myself take the initiative and be the first one to say howdy. *breathes through paper bag* 4) Say yes (within reason). I’m obviously not going to be jumping off any bridges because of pure whimsy & spontaneity (even if there are bungee cords attached...no!), but I think there’s something to be gained from taking chances & staying flexible. Salsa classes? Yes! Haunted walking tour? Heck yes! Oysters? Still no. When I say yes to new experiences, I’m also saying yes to learning and personal development. So I will be saying yes-ish to what comes my way. 5) Take time to just be. A part of me wants to take every moment I’m in Europe to do something exciting & eventful. If it’s not picture-worthy, is it even important? Jkjk Yet, I know I run the risk of burning out if I adopt this attitude. Throughout the trip, I will be looking for opportunities to sit and just be still. Maybe this will take form in a cup of coffee and a book at the park or wandering around a bookshop or journaling at a cafe (do you see a theme here?). I want to enjoy life, and I can’t do that when I’m rushing ahead to the next thing and not fully soaking in where I currently am. Feel free to keep me accountable to these challenges - I will need it! Your friend, K