Traveling Around the World

Did you ever have to read that book Around the World in 80 Days? I never did and I always thought it was about sailing around the world. (I now know it's just about traveling by ship, train, and other locomotives). But have you ever thought about traveling or sailing around the world? I know I have, but that might be because traveling is an interest of mine. I use to say that I'd fill up a passport before my 25th birthday. I haven't ever filled up a passport, but I have traveled to 3 other continents which include 13 countries. Two years ago I went to Africa, which was a dream come true and I'm already itching to return. And I also keep putting off a trip to Ireland/England that my husband and I have been planning and saving for, but maybe this year? We keep waiting until someone else joins us, we like spending time with each other, but we like the fellowship of family and friends even more. So anyone up for it??



Anyway, back to the subject of sailing and traveling, I wanted to share a blog that simply inspires me for a few reasons. 1) This blog is from a young woman named Abby who is 16. I admire anyone young who goes above and beyond mainly because when I was just 15 the Lord really impressed this verse on my heart "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." I think this young woman is setting her goals high in life and she's not letting anyone tell her that she can't fulfill her dream. 2) Abby is traveling. In fact, she is traveling around the WORLD. Yes. I highly advise people to travel if they have the means and opportunity. Seeing the world teaches us we are not alone, we are only one country, one of the many races, we speak only one language, there is SO much more out there. She is going to experience different cultures, meet people of other races who speak different languages, and see God's beautiful creation as she travels. Yes, these life lessons can not be found in a book. 3) Abby is attempting to be the world's youngest solo circumnavigator. This means she is SAILING around the world by herself! WOW. What responsibility, what an undertaking, what skill, what a dream! Check out Abby's Blog.



I have never sailed by myself, but I grew up with a best friend that loved sailing. Her parents owed a sailboat and I spent many weekends sailing with them. We only sailed down the St. John's river, but I remember all the things you constantly had to check, the terminology you had to know, the different things you needed to race around to do to put up the sail, take it down, dock, and take off; so I can't even imagine all the things she must have had to learn. I really have a lot of respect for her. She is keeping a blog of her travels and so I am following her adventure. She is sailing by herself. I still can't fully comprehend that. This young girl has given me another reason to keep dreaming, to think of the possibilities, to ponder about all those what ifs.. I may feel quite grown up at 24, but after this I'm starting to think this is really just the beginning of life... I can't wait to see what happens!



And remember these words of Mark Twain



~Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.~