Hunned

Q u o t e o f t h e d a y: "You are never really traveling alone, the world is full of friends waiting to get to know you.: -- Anonymous

What's happening?

Over 100 days ago I set out for an adventure that I knew would change my life, but I wasn't quite sure how. After four months of being away from home, I've become a more independent, self-sufficient, less judgmental and culturally sensitive person. Among other things I'm sure. Picture learning how to ride a bike without training wheels. That's Remote Year in the beginning. It’s taking a chance on something you truly know nothing about, the people you’ll be with or how you are going to feel. There was no training and no practice that could have prepared me for what I’ve experienced. After 100 days, I can successfully say that I'm doing it. On Remote Year, just doing the damn thing is an achievement in itself, and for that -- I am proud of where I am and that this has become my new normal. So what is normal anyway? Well it's different for everyone. For me it's a suitcase and a backpack of belongings and my computer in hand no matter if I'm at a desk or hiking a mountain. My normal is a family of 50, comprised of people I never could have expected to befriend. Taking work calls at midnight, carrying five currencies in my wallet, chatting with Bulgarians who have previously lived in my little off the grid, New York hometown, and in a nude bath of course. I've set up my share of tinder dates, and managed to cancel 99% of them last minute -- because the thought of missing something with my RY friends gives me serious FOMO. My normal is just not normal, and I'm happy with that.

What to say when someone asks why the sky is blue? I don't friggen know. I haven't quite figured out what my lesson learned from this experience will be. I also haven't really given enough thought to what I want to achieve. What I do know is, I'm learning more than I could imagine from the people I've met and the places I've been so that's got to be good right? Now instead of boring you with more paragraphs, I've asked a few friends back home to ask any question they'd like me to answer about my 100 days to keep things interesting; What's been the most unexpected part of Remote Year? I knew that I would meet a fantastic group of people who would become my companions. Never did I think that I would have a family of 52 before the age of 30. Losing someone in the group is like a life lost. Every single person I have met has impacted me in a way that I can only say has become something I can't live without. Is there anything you would reprioritize in the next 100? When I left, being a part of all the Remote Year events and bonding with the group was all I wanted. After 100 days, I've realized that I can't make most events with my work schedule and I won't always bond with every single person. Both of those things are okay. My priority now is to focus on what makes me happy. Some days it's doing a killer job at work. Some days it's a 6-mile run. Some days it's an Aperal Spritz on a side street in Italy. Life is too short to focus on what you can't control. For the next 100 days I want to focus on what I can, which is being happy as much as possible and doing all the things I can to get me there. Are you achieving the goals you set for yourself?

Yes, I have. But my goals before I left were to figure out what was missing from life. I couldn't possibly be 28 and have it all. My goals have since adjusted. I've rearranged what success means to me and what feeling accomplished looks like. I don't think I was missing anything from my life except for more money and a bigger apartment, the same things all those who are my age want. Maybe a man, maybe a job where I feel more secure, maybe nothing at all. However, I’ve realized none of those things determine how I feel about myself, or at least they shouldn't. Right now, what's necessary is that I make the most of what's in front of me, I have the opportunity of a lifetime and to miss out on that would be a shame. I'm setting knew goals to better myself, whether it's creating structure in my personal life, setting fitness goals, seeing a number of historic sites each month or going on at least one tinder date -- all things that I can look back on and never have to say "I wish i did that." What are the biggest obstacles you've come across and how have they changed you? Proving myself at work. My Instagram pictures are out of this world, and it appears I am happy all the time. That's because I'm surrounded by the most successful and motivating group of people who are pretty good at keeping things positive. The biggest challenge has been proving that I work my ass off, and that work has always been and always will be a priority. The environment I am in makes me want to strive for success and crush my day to day with a passion for being great. Just because I have fun on the weekend, or because I am living in another country, doesn't meant I’m not focused on trying to be my best self, in every aspect of life. I don't think this has necessarily changed me in any way but I do think I view things differently. Every now and then, someone throws a curve ball, so the sooner you learn how to adjust your swing, the sooner you'll hit it. Do you find living out of a suitcase challenging? Yes. Unpacking to feel at home is as quick as packing back up to move to the next city. I've learned that the things that I HAD to have back in NYC are not entirely necessary. Where I do appreciate having options and I'm known for having the most clothes, for me to live out of one suitcase is an improvement alone. At the end of the day, those who care won't judge you for wearing the same shirt twice in a week, at least not on Remote Year. Unless of course,

. ;)