My Own Personal Cheering Squad

I'll be honest, when I made the decision to quit my job and go to Southeast Asia for 6 weeks, I anticipated a primarily negative response--something along the lines of how irresponsible that was going to be, how bad the economy is to leave my job at a time like this, and how dangerous it's going to be to go by myself, etc., etc. Perhaps it was my own insecurities playing out or perhaps I just didn't have a lot of faith in my friends and family (sorry guys!) but in my unavoidably negative state of mind, I assumed that most people would think that my decision was just plain ridiculous. However, in the last month, since officially putting in my resignation and announcing my plans to the world, I have gotten nothing but an outpouring of support and excitement on my behalf. The offers of advice around traveling to Thailand and Cambodia and Vietnam have been abundant and people I barely know have been beyond generous with their time and information. I can only hope that the response I have been getting will be representative of my experience to come.

Truthfully though, I feel as if I have never known people to be so kind as they have been in recent weeks. It's as if I have a whole new view of people in general. In reality I know that's not true, as I have had many people be kind to me over the years, but I think I may be in a different place these days--in a place where I feel that I can accept peoples' kindness, and maybe even deserve it. I can't pinpoint what has changed, all I can say is that I know something has. It's as if I have suddenly passed over into a new place in life. I've even gotten feedback that I seem "different..." and not in a bad way! So I'm gonna go with it and I'm gonna bring this new and "different" me to Southeast Asia with me. Anyway, for those of you who have been showing your never-ending support, thank you and stick around for new adventures to come in just a few short weeks! Eek!! (Yay!)