The Biggest Adventure You Can Ever Take is To Live the Life Of Your Dreams

What 2.5 weeks in Brazil has taught me about expanding your life

I’m writing this from a little restaurant called Hula Hula in Rio de Janeiro.

There’s an Aperol Spritz on the table, a plate of chicken and broccoli rice in front of me, the Atlantic Ocean doing its thing on the beach, and my phone is propped up against the salt shaker while I send voice notes to friends back home.

Beach view from the restaurant ❤️

3 weeks ago, I wouldn’t have believed this moment was possible. Not the being in Rio part, I’ve been planning that for months.

The sitting here on my own, feeling completely comfortable, completely safe, and completely at home part. That’s the bit that would have made me laugh.

Because as per my last post, I was pretty nervous knowing my dream was about to become reality.

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20 Years in the Making

As I’ve said before, my husband and I have been waiting for this moment for almost 20 years. We always knew we wanted to live nomadically, location-free, exploring the world, and building businesses from wherever we happened to be.

But we also had a daughter to raise. And she came first. Always.

Fast forward to September last year, and our girl, now 19, headed off to music college in London. She’s working, studying, making friends, and living her best life. Which meant that after two decades of dreaming about it, my husband and I are now free to go and live ours.

So here I am. In Rio. 🥳 🇧🇷

I’ve just survived Carnival with my sister, and when I say survived, I mean it was an absolute riot!

Wild, colourful, loud, sweaty, and a full on assault on your senses. It was without doubt an unforgettable experience and I’m working on a post all about it (coming soon).

Inside the Sambadrome!

My sister flew home at the beginning of this week, and my husband arrives tomorrow (today now as I publish this) from Australia.

Then we’re heading up the coast of Brazil to potentially explore Lençóis Maranhenses, Jericoacoara, possibly Chapada Diamantina and Fernando de Noronha. After that? A few days in the Amazon, then Colombia, Costa Rica, and up to Mexico.

Just typing that out blows my mind that I’m actually doing it. Actually living it! 😳

The Uncomfortable Truth About Comfort Zones at 53

I’ve spent so long being excited about our nomadic dream that when it arrived and I was greeted with a substantial amount of fear and trepidation I was surprised.

I’m 53.

I am categorically more confident in some areas of my life than I was at 23. I give approximately zero figs what people think of me. I know who I am, I know what I want, and I’m long past the stage of performing for anyone.

But just prior to coming to Brazil I got super nervous. The kind of nervous that sits in your stomach at 3am and whispers things like ”Is this safe?” and ”What if something goes wrong?” and ”You’re not 25 anymore, you know.”

We assume that age, experience and the confidence that comes with it, is a blanket that covers everything. It’s not.

You can be utterly fearless in one area of your life and a trembling mess in another. Confidence isn’t universal, it’s specific. And when you step into unfamiliar territory, you’re essentially starting from scratch with your confidence in that particular area.

But the great news is that confidence is a muscle. And like any muscle, it grows every single time you use it.

What 2.5 Weeks in Brazil Has Taught Me About Expanding Your Life

I’ve been here for just over 2 weeks now, and I’ve already noticed a shift.

It’s not dramatic or transformational (yet), but I know that every small thing I’ve done that felt slightly outside my comfort zone has added a tiny bit of strength to that confidence muscle.

Walking to the shops on my own. Getting a taxi across the city. Navigating Carnival in Copacabana with thousands of people. Sitting in a restaurant solo, phone on the table, and feeling perfectly fine.

None of these things have been huge. But they‘ve been stacking up. And it’s the layering of experiences that’s the secret.

Here’s what I think is genuinely useful if you’re standing at the edge of your own comfort zone:

1. Motion creates motivation, not the other way around.

Sometimes we’re under the illusion that we need to feel motivated before we act. But it’s the opposite.

The more I move, the more I want to move. The more I explore, the more I want to explore.

If you’re waiting for motivation to show up at your door with a bouquet of flowers and a plan, you’ll be waiting forever. Just start. The motivation comes from action.

2. Your body is your vehicle, so look after it.

I’ve got arthritis in my knees. It’s not debilitating yet, but it’s there. I’ve lost quite a lot of weight over the last couple of years, and I’ve realised that my health and fitness need to be right at the top of the priority list from here on out. Not for vanity, but for capability.

I want to hike. I want to climb steps. I want to explore cities without having to sit down every ten minutes.

Taking care of your body isn’t a nice-to-have when you’re living this kind of life. It’s the whole foundation.

3. Start before you’re ready.

If I’d waited until I felt 100% comfortable with the idea of travelling through South America, I’d still be sitting on my sofa.

You will never feel fully ready. The readiness comes from the doing.

4. Every step makes the next one easier.

2 weeks ago, the idea of eating alone in a restaurant in Rio felt mildly terrifying. Tonight I did it without a second thought.

By the time I get to Colombia, I’ll probably be doing it with my eyes closed. (Metaphorically of course, I realise that I still need to be fully aware of my surroundings).

Each experience builds on the last, and before you know it, the thing that scared you has become the thing that defines you.

5. Ditch the extra baggage — literally and figuratively.

I’ve already dumped a load of stuff from my bags because they were too heavy. There’s a metaphor in there somewhere, but also it’s just practical advice: pack lighter than you think you need to.

Your future back will thank you.

Building the Life That Funds the Dream

None of this would be possible without the businesses we’ve built.

We started creating online businesses in 2010 and have had 15+ years of ups and downs. Years where we were absolutely skint and years where we did ridiculously well.

We’ve made money blogging, selling courses, coaching, you name it. We then built a seven-figure Amazon business, sold it in 2020, and invested carefully. But money doesn’t last forever, especially when your plan is to see as much of the world as possible before your knees give up entirely.

So I’m still building.

I’ve just launched This Big World, travel challenge cards for bold, curious, fun-loving travellers, and I’ve just hit my first 100 sales. It’s a small milestone, but it’s mine, and I’m proud of it.

I’m growing my audience on Substack. I’m creating content. I’m doing the work.

But for me it’s not just about funding travel, it’s also to keep my mind sharp, give me purpose, and in all honesty because I just love building businesses! 🥰

(Look out for a post on ‘How I’m Funding My Travels’ coming in the next few days!)

But Here’s the Best Part…

It’s always the people that make the place.

Brazilian people are absolutely gorgeous. Warm, welcoming, generous & kind. Same with the Argentinians and Chileans I’ve met along the way. Yes, there are some dodgier areas — downtown Lapa and parts of Copacabana can feel a bit sketchy after dark. But overwhelmingly, I’ve felt safe, comfortable, and welcomed.

Oh, and one more thing. They have these little canned strawberry drinks over here. About £1.25 a can, 7.9% volume. A couple of those and you feel bold as a badger. Highly recommended for those moments when you need a small nudge past the comfort zone boundary.

I’m joking. Mostly. 😉

The point is this: I’m in my 50s, I’ve got dodgy knees, big goals, and a backpack that’s still too heavy. But I am truly living my dream. ❤️

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, the right age, or the right level of confidence, I urge you to start chasing your dreams today with every bone in your body. Because as Oprah so wisely said;

“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams’