I’ve got my suitcase, my passport and ME.
Sometimes I have to smile at myself when I am standing somewhere in the world with my suitcase waiting for a new adventure.
At the age of 23, I have already visited many places. Modeling has given me the opportunity to work in various country’s and experience many different cultures.
I feel blessed to travel and learn about and meet new people, but the life out of a suitcase is not always easy.
Traveling has taught me a lot, it has helped me to expand my mind and my world view; yet, my life is filled with a certain level of uncertainty, since I never know what's coming next.
I wanted to share a few of the ups and downs that I experience while traveling on my own:
Loneliness
As a model, life can get a little lonely; always in new places, far away from your friends and family.
Yes, you are meeting new people every day, which often does’t amount to much more than small talk. It takes time to fully arrive in one place and build deeper connections with people. So, it’s easy to feel lost when you are alone in some of the biggest cities in the world.
When I first arrived in Mexico City, I didn't like it at all, it was big, messy and a completely different culture than I am used to. Once I met the right people, I fell in love with the city and I ended up staying for five months. I was lucky to meet the right people, but this is not always the case.
It is also difficult to have a relationship. I have experienced a long-distance relationship and it was very challenging.
The feeling of loneliness can be difficult and is mentally challenging; however, it also contains within it, the gift of learning how to be comfortable with yourself.
I have always been the type of person who enjoys their alone time. Being alone for such long periods and intense periods of time has helped me to get to know myself more deeply.
It is a powerful skill to transform feeling lonely into the appreciation of precious solitude time.
Also, the feeling of loneliness has taught me to open myself up to new experiences and people.
I realized that the emotion behind loneliness, most of the time, is the need to feel loved. Recognizing this helped me to distance myself from the emotional weight of the feeling and simply observe it. Once I changed my lens, I realized that I am loved and I am always loved, no matter what!
Friends all over the world
I have friends all over the globe.
I started to travel as a model at the age of 16 and I have met many people along the way, some of them became close friends of mine.
I went through different stages of my life in different cities with different people, which formed me into the person I am today. I look back to these moments in time, good and bad, and I am thankful!
I feel blessed to call many people in various countries my friends; I can visit many foreign lands and live the life of a local.
My travels have taught me how many wonderful people are out there and that I am not alone; I always meet people who share similar values or ideas.
It feels good to connect to new people, who inspire me, help me grow and feel at home while being far away from home. Isn’t it what why we live, to connect to others? To share? To learn? To give? To grow?
Exhaustion
“Is my accommodation nice, clean and cozy?“ This is a typical thought that is going through my head when traveling to a new place.
I always sleep in different beds and have to make myself a home again, wherever I am. Many things are uncertain and, as I mentioned, it takes time to adjust to a new place.
It can be draining to travel, sometimes I find myself mentally as well as physically exhausted and ungrounded.
Yoga has helped me and is still helping me to ground myself wherever I am.
I enjoy the community aspect of yoga, it connects me to people and helps me to feel safe and secure, no matter where I am.
As you might have guessed, I love to check out yoga studios all around the world.
For example, last year I was in Athens and the city didn't resonate with me, luckily I found a great yoga studio, which helped me to feel better and I ended up having a good time in there.
What else is helping me to ground myself? Journaling, Meditation, charming coffee shops, a good book and spending time in nature!
There are always ways to make yourself feel better, regardless of where you are; try to listen to yourself and make the best out of every situation.
Looking back at all my struggles and discomforts, they are what made me stronger and helped me grow the most.
Unique Experiences
“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.“ - Anita Desai
On every trip, I am learning and exploring new parts of myself. My journeys are very much a part of the person that I am today.
Still, I am craving to explore, meet new people, see new places and experience different cultures.
I came to the realization, that what truly counts in life are experiences. It is not the clothes you wear or the house you own; it’s your personal experiences that form you and make you and your life unique.
I think our experiences move us from one place to another and prepare us for the next thing.
Looking back on all my travels, I wouldn't change a thing.
For now, I haven’t found the right places “to settle down” and so I will keep living the life of a nomad.
I trust that one day, I will feel when I am in the right place to plant roots. Until then, I will follow wherever life takes me.