Capturing The Moment
Posted on Oct 26, 2011 | 17 comments
Few moments in life stick.
We all have our daily moments when we feel a sense of urgency. Moments when we feel compelled to act, make change, or just DO SOMETHING, but rarely do these moments last.
So often we miss our moments.
How many times have you heard a song, read a novel, or glanced at the daily news and thought,
TOMORROW, I AM GOING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING!
Of course, you woke up the next morning for the start of your NEW LIFE and the kids were fighting and you had a meeting at the office, so change was just going to have to wait.
And IT is still waiting.
Some time ago, my family and I were driving up the east coast of the United States and I had one of those moments. Nothing new for me. I have moments of motivation all the time, but this moment was different. This moment stuck.
It was 2AM and my family was sound asleep in the car. I stopped off somewhere in North Carolina to get some gas and cup of coffee. The weather was perfect. And aside from the calm buzz of the freeway, the night was silent. Things were good. I was content; I was happy.
I got back in the car and jumped back on the freeway to head home, and that's when I had my moment.
The idea of HOME entered into my head and I nearly drove the car off the road.
HOME?
Are you kidding me? That's where I am going right now.
Back to the routine? Back to the job, the daycare, the groceries, the bills, the toys, the TV, the hours and the noise?
Nope!
No! No! NO!
HONEY! WAKE UP!
Poor Heidi woke up to my madness and had to listen to me ramble through the night about quitting our jobs and traveling the world forever and as always, despite being half-asleep, she said, "Well, when do we start!".
On that night back in 2010, I had a moment that I'd had a million times before, but like I said, this time it stuck. This time when I realized that I was happier pumping gas at 2AM in North Carolina than I was going back to my life in Boston, I knew I just couldn't wait anymore - something HAD to be done.
Capturing The Moment
Life-altering moments don't have to be laced with tragedy. We shouldn't have to wait around til we get fired or someone dies before we decide to strive for happiness. We simply have to find ways to capture those little moments of hope and doubt that we have on a daily basis and put them to work.
I use this website like one uses a photograph. It constantly reminds me of that trip in the car and watching my kids sleep at that gas station in North Carolina. It is the ONE thing that has made MY moment last. Without finding a way to capture the force of that moment, it would have just faded to the back of my brain like all those that have come before it.
Changing your life, I mean really flipping it upside down and starting to live for a purpose, is the hardest thing in the world to do. For those like me who have spent 15 years buying and working and getting settled, it's a long, hard struggle to get out of the ditch. You have to STAY motivated. You have to find a way to harness the power of a moment and let it drive you to the promised land.
This article is part of a group project we participated in with some other moment-capturing, traveling families. There are some amazing stories here, make sure you check them out.
Livin On The Road: Whose Idea Was This?
Tripping Mom: The Moment I decided to Live Abroad For One Year, Just Me And My Child.
Family On Bikes: One Moment In Time: A Lifetime of Adventures
Family Trek: The Moment We Knew We Were Made For More
Raising Miro: The Moment
Carried On The Wind: Moment
New Life On The Road: It Only Takes A Moment
Worldschool Adventures: The Moment of Inspiration in Hanoi, Vietnam
Bohemian Mom: The First Moment We Decided To Change Our Lives
Living Outside The Box: The Moments That Added Up
OK Escapists, that’s it for now, but make sure you come back and check in on our progress in our quest to travel forever. We promise we’ll put everything we’ve got on the table for you.
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Thanks for the visit, and best of luck with your adventures!
I like what you said about staying motivated. Without keeping the goal in site, then you can never get somewhere beyond where you are right now. Staying focus, motivated, and making life changes in that direction are what get you there! You're on your way!
Yeah! Going forward isn't hard unless you have the constant tide pushing against you. That's what this process is like. Trying to get out to open water against rough currents. It's up and down and a lot. But stay motivated, and keep moving forward.
Justin, Monica actually said the MOMENT she knew we were determined to live this life was when I was considering taking a "real job" and the thought made her sick!
Clark Vandeventer recently posted..The moment we knew we were made for more
I think once you go native you can never go back. Remember that movie Cast Away. When the guy comes back to regular life after years on the island. I don't think he could ever be the same.
Cast Away! Great reference!
Clark Vandeventer recently posted..9 places I’ve loved in 9 years
Staying motivated can sure be hard sometimes!
Who you tellin! Talk to me tomorrow and I will be passed out on the couch.
I love, love, LOVE this image: You have to find a way to harness the power of a moment and let it drive you to the promised land.
That is so true. The moment is really a whole series of moments that we life. Each day we have to decide all over again if we'll continue on with the dream or let it fade into oblivion. We need to harness the power of that moment or we'll lose it.
Nancy from Family on Bikes recently posted..One moment in time: A lifetime of adventure
Right now I feel all we have to go on are moments. It is such a balance game we are playing right now. But the motive is there. And All I have to do is think of that long drive a few years back and I get going again.
Heidi reminds me a lot of my husband Mike. Every time I come up with a crazy idea he always jumps on board and says Yeah! Lets make it happen!
Amy recently posted..The Moment of Inspiration in Hoi An Vietnam
Yeah. Heidi is the easy one. If we ever fail, it certainly won't be her fault.
Wow - all it took was a gas fill up in a petrol station and you had the moment? How fantastic...so glad it gave the idea that life could be different/better
Cheers
Lisa
Lisa Wood recently posted..It Only Takes A Moment
Maybe it was the fumes!
No, It was way more than the gas! But you don't have moments like that? Moments when it is the simplest thing and you just get a moment to breath and look around and think you could do something better. I have always had them. Just decided to put this one to good use!
Wow, Heidi was easy to convince! It took me YEARS to convince Jarrad
Love the image of the website as the tool to keep you focussed rsather than a means to an end.
Wow, how inspiring! I only wish I had the courage to do something like this too, it's the kids that stop me, I would feel so guilty if they hated it:/
Thanks Drina!
Anyway you could try it for a month and see how the kids took to it? From what I have heard most older kids have a tough time adjusting for a few weeks and then they love it. And as adults they look back on travel as having a very positive impact on them.
Good luck! And let us know if we can help if you decide to hit the road!
What a great post! I'm so glad you found your "moment" When we did our RTW we really felt like we "found ourselves" again and nothing has been the same since. We too, are happy sitting on the ground with schoolchildren in Malawi eating a not too tasty meal than we are in our lovely home here in the US. Thanks for the continued inspiration to keep working towards our goal of becoming full time global nomads!