LET US GO! TRUST US! BELIEVE IN US!

Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, for raising me, and for teaching me to be the person I am today.  I know I broke your heart when I quit my job and cast off all of your plans for me. I know you understood my words, but I don’t think you really understood their true meaning or the real reason that I left everything behind to start a life without fixed plans and limits.

Don’t think that I quit my job because of some quarter life crisis or to run away from something – I quit because I wanted to know myself better.

Don’t think that with this decision I lost all of my ambition, I have more ambition now than ever before and it’s being aimed in new and amazing directions.

Don’t think I’m just rebelling against you; I’m finding my own way through life, which is the only way that I’ll be truly happy.

Don’t think I’m insulting your hard work when you see my pictures cleaning hostels in exchange for bed and food; I’m just finally experiencing the real world and learning to be humble.

Don’t think that I’m wasting my University degree by giving up my career; I’m making better use of it than ever before, expanding my experience of the world with real life education.

Don’t think that my travelling lifestyle is all about parties; I’m not roaming the world indulging in some kind of hedonistic lifestyle! Instead, I spend every day indulging in new cultures, new experiences and new ways of living a fulfilled and happy life.

Don’t think I’ve wasted my savings to travel, I have finally discovered the best thing to invest in – REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES, because they are the only things that last forever.

Don’t think that I don’t care about my future, I have more aspirations than ever before and I’m rising to each and every one of them.

Don’t think I lost my values, especially when I disobeyed you to pursue my dreams; all of values, morals and ethics you taught me are still fully intact and every day they help me to discover new pieces of myself.

In order for me to fully immerse myself in this world of wanderlust, I ask only this – let me go, believe in me and trust me. After all, you raised me to be strong and independent, which is a big part of what led me onto this path. You may not understand everything that I’m doing and you may never agree with it, but I know that one day, you’ll be proud of me.

Your grateful and loving child, now and always.

NOTE:  I’ve received a lot of emails asking about how I managed to inform my parents about my decision to travel long-term 2 years ago. To be honest, growing up in a Filipino culture, it wasn’t easy. My parents have very different stands on this and they were indeed very worried and upset with me! Well, I was 24 years old and planned to travel on my own for an unlimited amount of time (Jon wasn’t with me at that time). Who wouldn’t think that I was a little bit crazy?!

I wrote this article with my whole heart (crying while writing it!). For parents out there who love us so much that you won’t let us travel the world. TRUST US! BELIEVE IN US! After all you raised us to be independent, right?

Related Article: After almost 2 years of travelling, my mum joined me for 3 months backpacking. Here’s the full article of How my Mom made me World traveller.

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