Four Months Out - The Space Between Dreaming and Doing

I woke up this morning with a wave of excitement, closely followed by a looming sense of fear.

For the first time in my adult life, I am making a massive lifestyle change entirely by choice. As a military family, we are used to moving to different locations or starting the routine of a new job—but those moves always felt structured, institutional, and safe. Now, looking ahead at all this new freedom, a quiet question creeps in: Are we making a wise decision leaving the country for a year in an ever-changing world?

If I'm being honest, it’s just the overwhelming stress of the present moment catching up to me. Our days are consumed by the reality of downsizing. We are prepping our house to sell, making endless runs to Goodwill, and sorting through a lifetime of belongings. On top of that, I am drowning in countless stacks of paperwork to finalize the house sale, update driver's licenses, and process my retirement.

I guess this is the messy reality of the difference between dreaming big and actually taking action.

Lately, I’ve had moments where I pause and think: I have wanted this for so long, and our family is completely on board, so why am I feeling these pockets of stress and insecurity?

But change is always hard. Following your dreams is challenging precisely because it doesn’t fit into the standard mold. When you step outside of the lines, self-doubt creeps in, and the people around you might question why you are walking away from what is "safe" or "normal."

But that is exactly what sets adventurers apart. It’s the willingness to move through the discomfort, knowing that while the outcome may not be perfectly safe or predictable, it will be extraordinary. We aren't just changing our daily routine; we are opening ourselves up to a whole new way of seeing the world. We are choosing to step away from the familiar to see what we are truly capable of.