A good friend once said to me ‘it’s better to regret something you’ve done rather than something you didn’t do’. I stopped and pondered over this for a while before coming to the decision that actually, this was a good philosophy to live by. How many times have we been offered opportunities, chances, or we’ve been required to make a challenging or difficult decision about something. Often it’s easier to shy away from experiences that are new or unfamiliar rather than to jump feet first out of our comfort zone into the unknown. How many times have you looked back and thought to yourself ‘I wonder what would have happened if I’d done….’ ‘I wish I’d taken the opportunity when it was there’?
Two years ago I jumped on a plane, gave up my Christmas and New Year with family and friends and went on adventure of a lifetime. I remember the butterfly’s in my tummy as I disembarked the plane on my own in Vietnam. I queued for over four hours to get my visa. I had no idea what to expect. I knew I would be traveling through Vietnam and Cambodia with two photographers; both of whom I’d never met or spoken to before; everything else was an open book. I was nervous and excited all at the same time. To think that I almost didn’t go…the ‘gremlin of doubt’ had crept into my mind saying that I was being irrational, too impulsive and having a midlife crisis (for the record, I’m too young to be having a midlife crisis – just saying!).
If I’d taken the easy option, given in to those doubts rather than pushing passed them and focusing on the possibilities, I would never have had the experience of my lifetime and built lifelong friendships.
Here are a few photos from my tip. Images and memories that almost didn’t happen…
