Often times, when the phrase \u201cfearless travel\u201d is used, it is in reference to going to physical places where the average tourist doesn\u2019t go. However, I think of it a bit differently. Being asked to be a part of a Traveling Mom campaign has given me the perfect opportunity to share my thoughts. For me, fearless travel is more about going places that push you out of your mental comfort zones. Personally, the most fearless travel of my life so far was the trip that brought me to NYC almost twenty years ago.<\/p>\n
Originally, I\u2019m from Newport News, Virginia. Contrary to my Northern friends ideas it\u2019s neither the town from the Newport News clothing catalogue nor a small \u201ccountry\u201d town where I tended cows and goats. It is small in comparison to New York City though. My origins didn\u2019t matter when I decided that I wanted to come to New York for college\u2026although I didn\u2019t know anyone up here. I ended up applying to Columbia for two reasons\u2026it was in New York and it didn\u2019t have a math requirement. (After Calculus in high school, I was done with math.) I actually applied after the deadline, but fortunately for me, the applications had a printing delay that year so I was able to squeeze in. I was just meant to be in NYC!<\/p>\n
Once I was accepted to Columbia, reality hit. I didn\u2019t have enough money to attend the college. I attempted to mortgage my father\u2019s house (without his consent\u2026but that\u2019s another story) and brokered a last-minute negotiation with the Dean of Columbia at the time. I remember tearfully telling Dean Greenberg, \u201cI just have to be there!\u201d during a phone conversation. (Oh my goodness, I was such a drama queen in my early years.) It worked though\u2026 and I was on my way to New York City.<\/p>\n
I was determined that I would make it in New York City, so I came. I had less than $20 in my pocket (really!) but I had a plan. I knew that I wouldn\u2019t need food, because I was on the school meal plan. I just needed to find a job within walking distance that paid cash the first week that I arrived. So, I did\u2026babysitting a local child around my schedule of classes. Then, of course everything else worked itself out. My family was able to send me some extra cash and some wonderful doors just kept opening. However, if I would have never taken the initial trip, I would have never been in the city that I love so much. Fearless travel definitely has its rewards\u2026 and they aren\u2019t just for the physically daring. (I like my bones intact. You definitely won\u2019t see me jumping off or out of anything like that. I\u2019ll leave those types of physically daring adventures to fearless travelers of the other kind!) <\/p>\n
As part of this Traveling Mom campaign, we will be discussing fearless and inspirational travel at a Twitter party on Monday, June 6th. It will be taking place from 9pm \u2013 10pm. You can RSVP to join in the chat (where you can win a variety of Sony prizes including DVDs of the first season of The Big C) on this Traveling Mom post. The talk will be sponsored by Sony\u2019s Showtime television show, The Big C<\/em>. (In the show, Laura Linney stars as an inspiring mom who doesn\u2019t let a cancer diagnosis keep her from living her life to the fullest.) Take a peek:
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