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If you want to achieve the unimaginable, you start by imagining it – Chris Guillebeau
The day I decided to conquer my unfounded fear of flying was the day that my perspective on the world significantly expanded. Unlike many who fear flying, I didn’t have a “cause” for my fear, rather, I spent too much of my time as a young girl watching films with my father about aviation incidents. The internal battle I faced was fueled by my intense desire to walk through the 12th century fortress that houses the Louvre in Paris, swim with sharks in Bora Bora, and complete the 12-hour journey that leads to the small town of Hana. Not one to allow fear to overtake me, I spent a lot of time educating myself and talking to people with aviation experience in order to step onto a plane with confidence. While I don’t have an official list of “must-see places before I die,” I know that I want to be well-traveled. Overcoming that fear was the first step in completing my own personal quest and perhaps that is why Chris Guillebeau’s powerfully inspiring book The Happiness of Pursuit resonated so completely with me.
I read The Happiness of Pursuit on the plane that took us to Maui. It seemed fitting to read this book about bringing meaning to life through the undertaking of a quest as I set out to visit a destination that had been on my mental travel list since I was a child. By the age of 35, Guillebeau had traveled to every country in the world, a feat that proved to be much more difficult to accomplish than you might think. But what he learned through his personal quest was that people just like himself were on their own quests to make their lives matter.
As a single woman in my 20’s, the world abounded with possibility. But even if I could travel on a whim, my conscientious responsible self compelled me down the path of career, marriage, and family. I like routine…I thrive on routine… but much like the people Guillebeau met during his personal quest around the world, routine has a way of taking over, and sometimes, it feels like the dreams we set out to accomplish might never be realized.
My love for travel and my desire to see as much of the world as possible was partially realized during those 8 months I spent living and working abroad. At the time, I had no idea I was about to endeavor on my own personal quest. And if I think about it too intently now, I realize the risks and sacrifices involved with that life-changing decision.
As a young girl, I dreamed about getting married and having a family, and I was well on my way to doing that when I realized that the timing just wasn’t right. I had just started working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a local Los Angeles hospital and I felt like I had finally found a position that allowed me to make a perceivable difference in the lives of local families and their newborn babies. Graduate degree…check…ideal job…check…marriage…check… The only boxes left to check were to buy a home and start a family…in that particular order. But I couldn’t quell that desire to see the world. Having had a taste of the European way of life during family vacations, I knew that my next visit would be different. I knew that I couldn’t embark on another 1 or 2-week “vacation” and feel content. I wanted to live and work and be fully immersed in the European culture. I wanted to take public transportation to work and shop at their grocery stores and worship in their local church. I did all of that and more during my 8 months living abroad.
While easy enough to plan a 2-week European vacation, particularly if money is no object, living and working abroad is quite a different pursuit and one that took nearly 7 months to accomplish. There were visas and work permits to obtain. I had to find a hospital that believed enough in my skill level to hire me over the phone based on references and experience. We had to sell one of our cars and put everything we owned into a storage unit. And, we had to overcome the greater challenge of convincing our parents that this was the right thing for us at the time.

Pre-SLR
I boarded a one-way flight to London on Memorial Day 8 years ago and thus began my quest. In that 8-month span of time, my entire world view was broadened. I learned to be flexible and adaptive…I learned that the “American way” is not the “only way.” I learned that the kindness of strangers transcends culture and language. And I finally understood what Anita Desai meant when she said that “wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” To this day, I still keep in touch with some of the nurses and people I met along my quest and I am forever changed by that experience.
The Happiness of Pursuit was written to inspire you…to take you out of your comfort zone if that is what you desire. Much like Guillebeau’s quest to see the world, there will be challenges and sacrifices. It will require patience and perseverance. But if you stick with it, you’ll realize the great satisfaction that comes from accomplishing such a feat.

Image via Stephanie D Zito
During Guillebeau’s own personal quest, he encountered a wide variety of people pursuing everything from artistic excellence to battling injustice. What he observed was the direct link between working towards accomplishing those extraordinary goals and long-term happiness. I was so inspired by the people Guillebeau met…a teenager crossing the ocean alone…a widower completing the tasks his wife would never have the opportunity to pursue…a DJ producing the world’s largest symphony. Admittedly, while I was reading these powerful, life-changing stories, I started thinking about my next quest and how my hope is that it will be one that seeks to make a visible, meaningful difference.

Image via Random House
Do you have a dream that tugs at your heart? Do you long to pursue a skill? See the world? Fight injustice? If there is a quest you’ve yet to endeavor, or you’re looking for inspiration for your next journey, I encourage you to pick up Chris Guillebeau’s remarkable read, The Happiness of Pursuit. For more information on Guillbeau, visit his website. Guillbeau is currently touring the country to meet readers and talk about his latest book. Follow on Facebook or Twitter to find out if he will be in your city.
Images: Rockin’ Mama unless otherwise noted.
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