3 Years Late but We Did it!

On 5th June 2023, I set foot in the Czech Republic which marked the completion of my 40 countries. A goal I had set for myself 5 years back- To have travelled 40 before I turned 40 in September 2020. Covid came, stayed, wrecked havoc and left me mentally weak to not have the courage to complete my goal. I fell short by 3 countries when the world closed down in March 2020. My 40th birthday came and went, my family did everything they could to celebrate! Everything around my 40th birthday celebration centred around my dream of 40. 

But anytime I would hear the number 40, something inside hurt. To everyone else, it was just a number- To me it was a failed dream! When the world opened in 2022 and travel started, I was scared of something I loved. With 2 bouts of bad covid, I now feared the foreign lands and the unchartered territories. I wanted to fulfil my dream but didn't know how to start back. 2023 started off on a different note and I found the same rigour that I felt in 2018 and 2019. Finally, after a lot of planning Oman, Poland and Czech Republic were ticked off the Bucket List and I touched the Coveted 40- 3 years Late but Nonetheless!

Some of us live our entire lives without fulfilling a goal, some of us even without setting one. And that is why I felt extremely proud of myself when I wandered on the rustic bridges of Prague. In fact, I felt proud of all of us. It was a solo dream that turned into a united resolve. I may have dreamt to reach 40 countries but it took a lot from everyone around me to get there.

First and Foremost, the husband who gave me entire financial support; sometimes even in crunch times. In our bootstrapped start up days when we minimised our expenses, he let me spend on my travel as i wished. My kids, my mother in law, my family- everyone rallied around me to look after each other, manage the household as I travelled. My friends- who stepped out of their ways to do day trips/weekend trips with me to visit a new country. It was as if the universe was conspiring to make this happen!

My wanderlust didn't bite the dust because of all of us. Because of how everyone around me rallied and spurred me on. Some with co-travelling, some with talking, some with motivating! Everyone contributed to my goal. So much so that I felt on that fateful day of 5th June, I would cry as we crossed the German border into Czechia. But since it wasn't only my achievement, the skies opened their hearts out. It rained, poured and wouldn't stop. In that moment, my tears wouldn't come out. Someone else out there was crying for me in happiness. Someone else out there was doing fist pumps! Someone else out there was grinning cheek to cheek! 

"When you want something with all your heart, you are closest to the soul of the world. That in itself is a very positive and powerful force."

You know your dream is teaching them things when the kids text you this !

And like the song goes-

🎵'Pehla ta Kudi ne Ludhiana bhi nahi tapiya si' 🎵

See you on the other side of 50 Now!

R