Yesterday I just booked a flight for this summer to Sofia Bulgaria, which will include a day trip to Northern Macedonia. I couldn’t be more excited. These will be my 51st and 52nd countries to visit respectively (depending on what country counter you are using). Generally these countries are not on people’s to do list, but the more one travels, the further one wants to explore. And a feeling returned that I hadn’t had in awhile….
Excitement.
Yes, I have travelled post the pandemic, including moving two new countries post Covid: France and Spain. But I haven’t visited new countries since February 2020. These were Lithuania and Ukraine (image below). Both of which I loved, and were timely.
Although I thought some of my wanderlust was dying down, I was surprised to see it still exists within for unchartered territory. What makes these travels more delightful is going to places I never dreamed of going to before. I knew I would always see the top 5 of Europe because this is what is sold to us on American films and media. But when I go to these new locations that I never dreamed of, it’s a reminder that I am pushing myself beyond the boundaries. I am expanding the box and surpassing a goal that I never even set.
There is an online organization called the Travel Century Club, which has a different type of count of territories. They have over 300 territories. If you have travelled to at least 100, you can join the club. My new goal is to hit the 100 club by the time I am 50. And I think this is doable. At this time, the number I am at is 64 territories. This is an average of at least 6 more per year to visit. https://travelerscenturyclub.org/countries-and-territories/alphabetical-list
I was excited about it, I told my mother today. “I have a new goal. I want to join the Travel Century Goal.” After explaining what it was, she said, “oh I thought you had a real goal like of your life purpose, not a travel goal.” I said “no, right now this is my purpose, at least until I’m 50.” She laughed it off. But why can’t it be? There are certain goals I have that are out of my control, but this goal I can accomplish. Why can’t a life goal be one’s current purpose? One’s North Star?
It’s the internal excitement that was the signal to me that my soul again is once stirred. This is the fuel I have been lacking. And it is enough. We are the ones who dictate our purposes, our lives. Our purpose doesn’t have to be monumental. It can shift. It can be what pulls your life force. And right now for me it’s the Century Club.
It Only Takes A Smile 