Most of us live with a false certainty that tomorrow is promised - Florence Given
My name is Lauren and earlier this year, I decided to take a circuit break from my job in big tech to travel the world.
I’ve been on a fast-rolling treadmill since I was little. My mum wanted for me what she never had. We pushed. Got into a grammar school, great exam results, great universities. I managed to anchor my career in my love of music and technology.
But a couple of life changes over the past two years have, quite literally, knocked me for six. One of those was a very badly broken leg in a road accident, which left me unable to walk for many months. I’m still very much in recovery and find my perspective on life a little altered. None of this was in my carefully curated plan for my third decade on earth. I’ve found myself - perhaps against the grain - at 30 years old with no mortgage, financial commitments or familial responsibilities on the horizon.
A gap year at 30 isn’t going to be easy.
I’ve never spent more than 3 weeks away from home, I’m a fussy eater, I have a dodgy knee and I can be painfully introverted. But I’ve always been ambitious with my life. I’ve never played it small or particularly safe. So here’s to taking the road less travelled.
Fortunately, I’m not doing this alone. My boyfriend Tim has dreamed about a world trip for a very long time. He’s adventurous, energetic and an experienced backpacker. I’m in good company.
So buckle in, dear readers. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for taking an interest in my journey around the world.
