Thoughts from the sky

I’m on a plane to Newark, New Jersey, and I can’t stop smiling. I have really found something I love to do. I’ve got my mediocre airplane coffee that tastes like travel, I’m listening to boygenius (you do know them, Dad, you have some of their songs on your phone), and I’m reading a linguistics book. I’m heading to London! Well, Newark. But then…London!

I used to be extremely anxious about traveling. Anxiety would put me at a standstill, and I wouldn’t feel up to planning my trips or booking hostels or buying train tickets. And I still feel some of that anxiety, definitely. I marvel every time I’m in the air. How did anyone figure this out? Flying is absolutely mind-boggling, fantasy-story stuff.

But I feel so much more confident now, too. I really love seeing how I adjust to new places and expanding my worldview. I love hearing other languages and people watching. I love sharing a room with 11 strangers and taking a train for six hours. I I love drinking airplane coffee, reading my linguistics book, and listening to boygenius.

I don’t know what my future holds, but I’m honestly not super frightened by that any more. I feel excitement as to where I might travel next. Where will I go? Who will I meet? What will I learn?

I know for sure that I want to keep traveling. And I’ll probably do a lot of it solo (though I’d love to travel with my family and friends!) because it’s easier to find time in one person’s schedule, especially when that person is me. But I also want to share my experiences. So that’s why I started this blog — to bring you with me, even when you’re at home on your couch, or driving home from Delaware, or scrolling on Instagram at night.

So, consider this my formal introduction to my blog, “Never Anywhere,” whose title comes from the song “Ketchum, ID”: “I am never anywhere/anywhere I go/when I’m home, I’m never there/long enough to know.” An edgy, ironic title for a travel blog, right? I’m nothing if not edgy.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine from above the clouds.

Chat with you soon!