1 year post #peaceplaypassion: a ted talk

(quick disclaimer: i am aware of how janky this site is and please don't judge my lack of attempt to be grammatically correct in this post. i write all day every day in my job so just let me word vomit this one out, kay?)

Welp. One year since #peaceplaypassion. Unless you believe all my Insta photos are actually *instant* and think I am still on it.

I definitely 100% used to be one of those people who thought it was cliché to say that “travel changes you” but the reality is there’s no denying I am a different person from before my trip and I thought I would jot this down because my #peaceplaypassion self is my BEST self and honestly I never want to lose her.

In case you're just joining now and thought i've actually been in bali one day, paris the next, and cape town the next, hi welcome! from november 2, 2017-may 2, 2018, i travelled around the world -- parts by myself, parts meeting up with friends or surprising my family in Hawaii. here was my route:NYC > Rwanda / Uganda > Zanzibar > Cape Town > Thailand > Bali > Gili > Borneo > Melbourne / Sydney > Byron Bay > Cairns > Bali / Komodo > El Nido > Coron > Hawaii/Kauai > Paris > London > Positano > Rome > Paris. home.

Here are the ways my trip changed me:

1) I never used to believe in the universe before.

But the way everything unfolded was just too crazy to not believe that everything worked out the way it was meant to.

I found true peace on my peace leg, played the HARDEST every damn night of my play leg, and literally fell in love in Paris on my passion leg, k.

While I was gone, I lost my job and my apartment, and then I came home to my dream version of each. Talk about a manifestation. After this stuff went down on my trip I really became a dreamer, started to imagine what if I could dream bigger, live a life I never knew was possible, be one of those people who I always looked at and say they lucked out.

I spent my entire trip living my BEST life, putting out good vibes, being excited to meet with people and connect with them and visiting my best friends around the world. The universe met me back with all that. it was actually perfect.

It was 1 month into ppp, I was FREAKING OUT that it would all be over soon and I would have to go back to reality and this incredible journey would come crashing down. Then I was standing at the top of Lion’s Head in Cape Town, (where I will be back in TEN DAYS omg), and I had a revelation that yes #peaceplaypassion would eventually end, but it was up to me to keep the adventure goin’. And everything happened exactly the way it was supposed to and I am determined to stay true to this for the rest of my life. if there's one thing ppp taught me, it's that there is more to life than being comfortable -- follow the magic, people. follow the adventure.

2) I am much lower maintenance than I was before my trip.

My standards for living my best life are higher, but my standards for “budget travelling” are lower. I will sleep in the cheapest hostel in the dorm with the most beds. I don’t wear any jewelry anymore since my trip, only my “P” necklace that I got on the #pregame. When Tam met me in the Philippines on month 4.5 and we crammed into a tricycle and then a 6 hour bus ride i was like KAPE LEGGO, and he was like … you’ve changed. I definitely would have put up a fuss before, but now it’s all part of the adventure.

I’ve gotten to taste insane luxury, and TRUST ME I WOULD OPT FOR THIS DUH, but it is way more important to me to make the most of my adventure and I don’t need five stars to do it. (I do need safe and semi-clean, but I mean I’m not a barbarian.)

3) I know MYSELF.

i decided to go on ppp on my 28th birthday because i was single, winters in vancouver are depressing, and i was craving a lil adventure. most of my happiness used to be dependent on my relationship status, and i wasn’t feeling that for my 28th year. because that is not in my own hands. so i decided to take my happiness into my own hands and make sure 28 was a kick ass year, on my own terms.

I can say now that i am stronger, I am more sure of who I am as a person. I know that I can make lemons out of lemonade and I know how to make myself have a good time. Solo travelling teaches you so much about yourself and it’s empowering, challenging, and a freakin’ blast.

I never knew adventure before this trip, I was too scared. 3 years ago I didn’t even want to travel to Thailand cause I was like ew, long bus rides.

now I will say “no” to nothing, and it has taken me from gorilla trekking, to shark diving, to scuba diving, to dancing everywhere possible, to backpacking across six continents BY MYSELF. I know myself better than ever and as my mom says, i haven’t met my guy yet because I haven’t been ready for him yet. Look at my past year and a half — as if I would have let a boyfriend slow me down through all of that!

Turning 30 in 7 days, going to my favourite city with my best friends, then my spirit city, and then on what might just be my most epic adventure yet. My soul is so ready for this and I can’t wait till #peaceplaypassion Kellie comes back out to play. and peace and pash.

Alexa, play #wakawakabday by Shakira!!!