Greetings from the Resume Gap and 61 Days Backpacking Europe

Hello!

If you have found yourself here, you probably already know I am traveling solo throughout Europe for two months this spring. If not, SURPRISE!

Yeah, it still feels a bit wild to me that I am actually here and living something that many people talk about but never do.

But let’s back up a bit.

Whether you have known me for years or are relatively new here, you have found me at a bit of a crossroads. The short version is that toward the end of 2023, I found myself feeling very unhappy. Aspects of my career and life were not headed in a direction I liked, and I realized that some things that used to be important to me were not so important anymore. So, I did something very out of character and quit my job to push the reset button.

Then, someone joked that I should lean into the lost millennial persona and travel Europe.

It had crossed my mind when I initially quit my job, but I thought, “No, that would be kind of irresponsible.” But with a little time, that turned into, “Well, why not? If not now, when would I ever be able to do this?”

So here I am, for TWO MONTHS, with only somewhat of a plan as I go.

Years ago, this blog was my way of journaling through my 20s and sharing my life with family and friends I lived far away from. It sat idle for a while, but I’ve revived it to share my travels. My camera’s SD cards and the Notes app on my phone are FULL of so many stories and thoughts that I am looking forward to sharing. And for the first time in longer than I can remember, I’ve been free writing for myself, filling my creative cup in a way I didn’t know just how badly I needed.

My next step post-travel in early May is to finally pursue communications and PR freelancing. I’ve thought about this casually over the years, but the timing feels right now, so don’t be surprised if you see this site change as I slowly turn it into a home for my business. If the right thing came along, I wouldn’t be opposed to doing something full-time again as I build my freelancing business, but generally, if you are looking for communications and PR support, I’d love to chat!

If you’d like to connect professionally, please find me on LinkedIn. Otherwise, I’m sharing my travels and beyond here and on Instagram. Be sure to check out my Instagram stories, which I’ve saved under highlights labeled “Europe ‘24 #1, #2, #3″ (so far).

I believe traveling is a privilege, and I am overwhelmed by the number of people who have sent me encouragement and positivity about taking an unconventional detour. 

Thank you ❤️