Road trip reflections
By Rachel
Most of my friends, family, colleagues and group participants over the past year have had to hear about The Big Trip I have been planning for a few years: caravanning around Australia with my family. I am now one month into that trip (hello from WA!), and despite legitimate concern that I would never cope without a good Melbourne coffee, regular hot showers and some personal space, I can safely report that I am alive and well (although missing those friends, colleagues and group participants- and I have bought a portable coffee machine!).
The reality of travelling with kids. This exciting tour cost a few hundred bucks.
I gotta say, though, driving a big 4WD vehicle with several tonnes of caravan on the back tow ball has taken some getting used to! It feels big, awkward, and much higher up on the road than what I was used to driving in Melbourne. I can’t zip into small car spaces, go anywhere without a map, and I need to watch out for overhead branches when the caravan is hitched. The big car even sounds different to what I was familiar with, as it runs on diesel fuel.
Driving this took some getting used to!
We’ve met heaps of people on the road, and everyone seems to travel differently. We’ve seen families with “big rigs” towing caravans like us, solo travellers who pull out a swag and sleep under the stars, cyclists riding across the Nullabor (definitely not for me), and people driving a whole truck, caravan AND boat around the country. I always love to see a van full of peeling bumper stickers from all the places it’s travelled, and imagine the stories that must come with that van. And it got me thinking: I think we humans can be a bit like cars, too (bare with me with this analogy…).
Of course we all look different to one another, and we each have different strengths. Each of us have travelled different roads in life, encountering life’s ups and downs, and its obstacles and roundabouts. Some of us may have even collected a few dints and scrapes along the way. Some of us tend to be solo drivers- preferring our own company- whilst others like to travel with lots of passengers. The “fuel” that motivates you and gives you drive for things, may be different to what motivates and drives your friends, family or others. You may even be feeling a bit low on fuel at the moment.
And whilst I love to collect travel tips and advice from others, the truth is that everyone’s journey will look different. Where you want to head may be different to me, and someone else’s experience of a place will be different to mine. Following someone else’s itinerary isn’t likely to be as meaningful as developing your own: one that best suits where you want to head, and how you want to get there. And really, I think that’s true for most of our life (not just the exciting holiday bits).
In the same way that vehicles perform best when they are taken to the mechanic regularly for a check-up and service, we humans can also benefit from a regular Check In. An opportunity to pause and check where we are at, and how our engine is running. To consider: Where do I want to head towards? What do I want to do and experience? and then, how might I get there? To work out: What is the (fuel) that will motivate me?, and, who might be my supports (passengers) along the way?
Here at The Social Confidence Collective, that’s the idea behind our Roadmapping sessions (and the reason for their name!). Perhaps it feels like you’ve gotten a bit lost, or stuck, and want help to reset your route. Maybe you’d like to pause and consider what it is that YOU value, and take more control of the direction of your journey. Or maybe you have travelled some rough roads recently, and need some “roadside assistance” to get back out there. This is what we do! So, if you or a young person you know would like help with getting unstuck: get in contact and enquire about our Roadmapping sessions. We would love to help you plan your journey!
Some pics from The Big Trip.