Birthday travel should be a time where you celebrate the past year and bring in the new one with a bottle of champagne, but travel should also be a time for reflection and gratitude.
Here is my experience traveling to Ireland for my birthday where I not only had the time of my life, but reflected on the past year with intention and set my priorities for the year to come. I share the four reflective questions I think everyone should ask themselves while traveling for their birthday.
By: Alyssa Ramdeen
Going into my 30th birthday after an extremely challenging year filled with some pretty intense life changes (let’s talk about a breakup, new relationship, new job, new apartment), you can say overwhelmed was an understatement. So, when planning my yearly birthday trip, I decided to forgo my typical itinerary that includes exploring museums, wineries, and nightlife and opted for a trip that would allow me to slow down, reconnect with nature and reflect on the past year before closing out the final chapter of my 20s. Driving around southern Ireland sounded like the perfect way to bring in the new decade.
After we landed in the Emerald Isle and started our journey through the country, I felt like we landed smack dab in the middle of a postcard. With lush landscapes and rolling hills scattered with sheep, I felt the immediate wash of relaxation as I looked out at the countless shades of green into the endless horizon – just what I needed.
On the morning of my birthday, we decided to explore the grounds at the Blarney Castle where we spent the day walking the gardens and eventually, made our way into the castle and up the narrow stone steps. As I climbed further to the top, I had a heart rate to match because I knew what was waiting for me – hanging over the edge to kiss the Blarney Stone.
When I finally got to the top and was face to face with the task at hand, I had a nervous hesitation because I have been afraid of heights my entire life. After taking a deep breath, I decided I was just going to do it without a second thought. I couldn’t allow fear to stop me from having a once in a lifetime experience. So I ended the day with kissing the Blarney Stone, and left with more luck and eloquence as the tradition says. What better way to bring in your 30s?
After facing my fear of heights in exchange for the gifts of the Blarney Stone, it really was the perfect metaphor for the way my life has changed the past year, in the best way possible. Realizing that many things in life, even more so than hanging off the side of a castle, can seem impossible and terrifying, but when you take that leap of faith, you will be rewarded with a life you never thought possible, and potentially, even happier than you ever imagined.
Traveling tends to award us with time and space, away from the chaos of our daily lives, to really be present and in the moment. When we combine travel, with the big moments such as a milestone birthday, it can be the perfect opportunity to reflect on the prior year, and go into the next chapter of our lives with renewed hope and inspiration. Here are a few things to ask yourself going into your next birthday trip.
What Did I Learn About Myself The Past Year?
Everyone tells you to trust your gut, but it’s much easier said than done. All my life I asked third and fourth opinions of everything I wanted to do. This year, I jumped on my major gut instincts and didn’t think twice.
Sometimes, we don’t trust that we know all the answers, which admittedly, we sometimes don’t, but when I started to feel that I wanted to end my marriage of only six months to the person I had been with for five years, I knew everyone would think I was insane – even I thought I was somewhat insane. But, despite the reaction I knew I would get from all of my loved ones, especially my parents whose opinions mean the most to me, I trusted my intuition and took the leap of faith to make the change I knew I wanted in my life. To everyone else, including me at times, it felt like I had taken five steps back and started over, but after getting past the uncomfortable stage, I knew that this decision only propelled me forward and led me so much closer to what I truly wanted out of life, and it looked completely different than what I planned. I quickly realized that I know more than I have ever given myself credit for about what is best in my life.
Every year you will become one step closer to your true self, and continuing to learn who you are from your past is a goal you should never stop chasing.
What Do I Need To Let Go Of?
Even though I’m a huge believer in taking charge of your life, some decisions you make can throw your life in a wildly different direction than you were anticipating. After a year that threw me on a totally different track, it took this type A control freak a minute to adjust.
Letting go of the idea that we can have every detail of our lives planned out for the next ten years was a freeing experience. Learning to take a deep breath, and just roll with the punches was a place I never thought I would get to – the planner in me is still in shock.
The beginning of the year was a whirlwind, and not always in the best ways, but seeing so much true happiness and joy come out of it, was a wake up call for me. Amazing things come when you stop being afraid to make decisions that can change your life for the long term.
What Do I Want To Say “No” To?
Being a people pleaser is hard work. Getting invited somewhere and either being so tired, not wanting to make the drive, or simply just wanting some time for yourself, but feeling too bad to say no. Sound familiar? Guess what – if you decide not to attend something, chances are no one will care!
Deciding to be more firm in what I wanted to do versus feeling too guilty to say no allowed me to spend more intentional time with my friends and family. I was happier, more present and in less of a rush to get out of there once it was acceptable. And it turns out, no one held that against me. I was putting so much pressure to show up for everyone that I was losing sight of what we all need more of – self care.
What Do I Want To Prioritize In The Year To Come?
Simply put, what I needed to prioritize in the year to come – was me. Focusing on what makes me happy and fulfilled like traveling, reading, writing and being out in the sun. The small things that were on the backburner when I was off focusing on my “life plan”.
Everyone loves to say life is short, but I disagree. Life is long, with many different phases and if you learn to enter into the next phase of your life with gratitude and wisdom from the phase before, you’ll embrace the beauty that life, with all its inevitable changes, has to offer.
Save the List
Dublin:
- The Croke Park Hotel
- Hairy Lemon – Great dinner spot that features local singers and dancers as entertainment
- Guinness Showroom
Killarney
- Hotel: The Victoria – HIGHLY recommended. Cute bed and breakfast feel, continental breakfast is top notch every morning (no joke), staff is warm and friendly
- Blarney Castle
- Killarney National Park
- Ring of Kerry
Galway
- Galway Bay Hotel
- Galway Christmas Market in the Winter – it’s MAGIC
- Cliffs of Moher
About The Writer
Alyssa Ramdeen is a writer whose mission is to bring a community of women together to inspire them to travel more, embrace change, take chances, and most importantly, take charge of their own lives. You can find more if you go to her website and subscribe to her newsletter at alyssaramdeen.com
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October 2023 | Life Lovers Magazine.
Life Lovers Magazine® 