As years go by, I constantly discover new things or activities I want to try. Some of them sound pretty normal, so when I speak out about them, people usually congratulate me for making the step. Other people, the ones who are more risky and always push me to leave my comfort zone, don’t give the same compliment. Instead, I just get a lecture on what I’m supposed to do.

I’m 24. I’m supposed to go out and find out what really makes me happy, what helps me to become a better person, and what pushes me to follow my dreams. A few months ago, I decided that I would be booking a flight to Europe after my graduation without a return ticket.

I was planning on taking a whole year off and traveling the world; I got caught all caught up in reading traveling blogs and how people can travel on a small budget. I was so excited; every night when I was trying to fall asleep, I kept getting butterflies in my stomach, thinking that I’d be having the time of my life and that this huge and amazing experience would give me all the peace and joy I would need.

I was so sure that I wanted to do it, and I even talked to myself, making myself promise that I was going to do the trip, no matter what. When I first had the talk with my friends, half of them were beyond excited, and they were asking for postcards already. The rest, on the other hand, just thought I was being a kid, asking me to settle down, telling me that it was time for me to build a career. I assume they were probably worried that I wouldn’t come back, or that I would be broken for a lifetime, but as I said before, I wasn’t asking for their permission.

Then, the hardest part. My parents. They almost killed me when I told them about my magnificent plan. They say I was crazy, that there was no chance on Earth that they’ll agree to let me do it, and they kept on saying how bad of a decision it was.

Honestly, for the first 3 days, I didn’t care. I wanted to go on with my plan, but people kept on telling me all the things I’m “supposed to be doing now." I still appreciate their point of view, and I’m no longer doing my trip (for now), but this situation helped me realize how much people can really change the game, and perhaps cause us do what they “suggest" us to do.

I am not saying that giving some advice is wrong, but in the end, it’s our own life and we sadly only get one. There’s nothing I would love more than doing all the things I have ever wanted, so by the time I die, I would leave this world fulfilled and happy.

Let’s just all make our own decisions, thinking wisely and making our plans for a purpose.