I’ve had anxiety since elementary school; it was pretty debilitating at times but as I got older I got better at managing it… until I flew to Chicago in 2010 to run a half marathon with friends and had such anxiety I had to fly home within 24 hours of landing.  This experience sparked a downward spiral that left me barely able to leave my house to work let alone travel. 

Over the past 10 years I have slowly but deliberately taken my life back one agonizing step at a time.  I’ve traveled a few times but always with great anxiety and an urgent internal countdown to the time I would be safely back home.  I’ve always believed I would love traveling if it weren’t for my anxiety. 

For a while now, I’ve been living the same life year after year; staying safe and getting by,  excelling in my career while feeling very behind personally.  2020 put a lot in perspective; all of a sudden I had the opportunity, as a therapist, to work remotely which was a privilege I never imagined was possible.  I started thinking about making a bucket-list-exposure therapy-fear-ladder to push myself to travel after the pandemic; I never imagined it would still be going on come January 2021.  

Anxiety is a beast that frequently pulls me into the what-ifs of the future; it can be so hard for those of us with anxiety to stay in the present moment.  This trip is one of the scariest things I have ever done but I vow to say yes to the scary things and do my damndest on this journey to keep my mind right Where My Feet Are.