"I really need to figure out a way to travel more."
It's interesting, what you think about when the word "cancer" enters your vocabulary in a way that only cancer can. When it is no longer something "out there" and has taken up space in your life. When the mundane things that you take for granted, like a long soak in the tub, are replaced with waiting for phone calls from the hospital.
Not once throughout this experience did I ever think, "Wow, I'm sure glad I worked all that overtime." Not once did I concern myself with my clients or their ad campaigns. What gave me pause was how much I enjoyed travelling and how little I'd done it thus far in my life. I spent many hours of my recovery time wracking my brain, trying to figure out how I could manage it financially.
This clear quartz Goddess travelled with me throughout Ireland.
It never ceases to amaze me, how things come together if you are open to possibilities. I had surrendered my question to the Universe, stating my intention that I would do whatever was needed in order to bring my goal to fruition.
We were sitting at the kitchen table one day during my recovery and out of nowhere I said "I really need to figure out a way to travel more." I wasn't looking for an answer, just stating my intention. My mom replied, "Well, we've been meaning to talk to you about something."
My parents asked me if I would like to come live with them. Apparently, for reasons I can't quite comprehend, they enjoy my company. They said my living there would help them tremendously and in return, they would help me save money that I could use to travel and set up a solid retirement fund. I could sell my house, be debt free, have the acreage life that I always dreamed of, and travel.
The acreage a few summers ago.
I have to admit, I wasn't completely sold at first. As with all decisions, I needed some time to warm up to the idea. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. I had been watching shows about "Tiny Houses" and thinking that I could definitely stand to downsize my life. Not quite to that extreme, but certainly let go of some stuff. The thing I kept coming back to was being debt free. That was a dream come true. I would no longer have to borrow money when the unexpected occurred, only to worry about how I would ever be able to pay it back. I would no longer have to put off doing the things I really wanted because of lack of funds.
It took me about three days to decide to downsize my life, sell my house, and move out to the acreage. Now, the real work would begin.