Adelaide Haynes5 Comments

Travel Anxiety #KeepingItReal

Travel is scary, nerve racking and gives you ridiculous amounts of anxiety. These are probably not the first thoughts that come to mind when you think of travelling the world. We are completely saturated by images of beautiful people standing in front of beautiful sites in beautiful places. Despite the carefree looks on their faces, I can assure you each and every person who’s journeyed overseas has felt some sort of travel anxiety.

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I consider myself pretty adventurous and I’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel before. Despite this, as I was in the uber on the way to the airport with my Mum this morning, I didn’t quite know if I needed to sing with joy or vomit. It’s a fine line really and I’m still not quite sure what I needed to do, but I’m glad I didn’t throw up in the taxi.

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I think it’s only natural to feel this way. I’m heading off on a 6+ month adventure. Goodbye friends, family and the familiar. It’s even harder when the past few weeks with your friends and family have been among the most exciting and fun weeks you’ve had in a long time. I guess this is what travel is all about, creating new memories and forever expanding your ‘familiar’

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Plus, the date completely crept up on me. How the hell is it actually the end of June?! I booked my adventure at the end of January. Way back when June felt like a life time away. I guess I’ve always had something to distract me and keep me busy. Uni does a pretty good job at that. I finished uni at the beginning of June and suddenly, I’m packing my bag and heading to the airport about to vomit in an uber.

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That anxiety is kind of put to rest when your Mum is snapping photos of you on her phone as you wave goodbye in departures…. (I love it). But then you’re wacked in the face with passport checks and security screenings. Next thing you know you’re barefoot and trying not to look suspicious so you end up looking suspicious af. Then you need to find your gate and my god it’s easy to get lost in an airport!

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That anxiety is then put to rest again when you see two of your friends at the airport both embarking on their own adventures as well. Both equally as nervous, excited and ahhhhhhhh as you.

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Then there’s the added anxiety of landing somewhere completely unknown… somewhere like Manila for example. Having no idea how to get to your hotel, how much money you should be spending on taxis plus the added nerves of reading horror stories of tourists experiences in Manila… it’s pretty damn overwhelming.

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Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely not complaining. I’m just sharing that feeling of butterflies/needing to throw up that we all experience at some point in our travel journeys. It’s totally normal and totally real. Just remember to take a deep breath, have a drink of water and think about all the amazing things you’re about to experience. It will totally be worth it. That travel anxiety will quickly be replaced with travel excitement and adventure. 

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When you get upgraded to Business Class, it definitely helps with those pre flight nerves!

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New Years Resolution: Try Something New: SING

“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” 

So in sticking to my New Years Resolution of Trying New Things, last month I tried something I never thought I would ever do… sing in front of a crowd. Now for all of you performers out there and naturally gifted singers, you probably think that’s the easiest thing on earth. And whilst it’s true that I’m comfortable speaking in front of crowds, singing on the other hand, is something I’ve never done and the thought of it terrified me.

I’ve grown up pretty much my whole life loving music, in my family I’m renowned for saying “OMG this is the best song ever!” To every second song that comes on the radio. And of course, I’d sing along. And sometimes I’d even sing so much that it’d get me into trouble. I remember once when I was about 12 years old, we had just moved house and we were unpacking all of our stuff. And when you’re in an empty house, the acoustics are pretty damn awesome. So here I was singing away at the top of my lungs, and my poor Mum has a shocking headache and asks me to stop singing. I did for a while, but I just couldn’t help it. I’d start humming, then very sneakily, start singing again, louder and louder. Eventually Mum absolutely lost it and sent me to the toilet for punishment. (Yea, we got sent to the toilet when we were naughty… I know… strange).

So, what does that story have to do with me today? Well I’ve pretty much always grown up thinking that I’ve got a bad singing voice. And when I got a bit older, I didn’t really care. I just did it and thought that people would have to live with it.

I’ve always admired people who could get up and sing in front of a crowd. And deep down, in the very back of my mind, it’s something I’ve always wanted to try.

So… a few weeks ago, during O Week at our college, we had a Tunes and Tales night, where people can get up and sing, dance, recite and perform whatever they want. I was happily sitting back, enjoying my beers (many many beers). The guy organising it asked if anyone wanted to perform. By this stage, most people had left and there were only a few people chatting on the lawn with friends.

Somehow… I ended up on the little stage along with my friend Andy. My friend Jack played the guitar (amazingly) and Andy rapped his own original rap that he wrote himself (talented much?) and I sang! And what did we sing? Hello by Adele. Of course, we choose one of the biggest songs of recent times. I laughed, I stuffed up the words, I was off key sometimes, but overall, it actually wasn’t too bad. I was honestly having such an amazing time. Dancing side to side, clicking my fingers and singing loud and proud into that microphone. And when Andy started rapping, he just took the whole thing to a whole new level. It was pretty damn awesome.

Sure – I was a little tipsy and it wasn’t a performance of a lifetime, but I was absolutely buzzing after that. My friends who weren’t there couldn’t believe that I actually did it. Luckily my housemate, Nicola, recorded it for proof, or else I’m not sure I would believe I did it.

I may have been nervous as hell, awkward and uncomfortable, but I walked away from that night on the biggest high. It just goes to show that there’s always something new out there to try, and it can all just start with a thought. And with supportive and encouraging people around you, you really can’t go wrong.

So I feel like I can definitely say that I’m well on track with my New Years Resolution for Trying New Things. And if I can get up and sing in front of people, then you can achieve whatever it is in the back of your mind that you’ve always wanted to do.

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Adelaide Haynes4 Comments

Why It’s Important to Follow Your Heart

I know, I know. It’s more clichéd than a boy meets girls story, but like this classic Disney plot line, there’s a reason why they’re so popular and important. Because it’s true! If you’re anything like me, and care about others, are ambitious, like taking risks, go adventuring, meeting new people…. Then following your heart can take you further than you could imagine.

I think it’s important to do so because your heart is your emotional side whereas your brain is the logical side. Logic can only get you so far. But compassion, empathy, understanding and emotion are driven by those electric urges that pulsate from our hearts. And it is these qualities that can push our comfort zones, open you up to new and exciting experiences, all whilst having a great support network around you. So here are some of the reasons why it’s so important to follow your heart, and those gut instincts and little voices that keep speaking to us.

The magnificent 12 Apostles
Following my heart to the magnificent 12 Apostles

Logic doesn’t always make sense.

If logic tells you to go to university and study commerce, work 60 hours a week, save money for a house… all whilst you’re unhappy in these situations, you’re heart doesn’t understand. Why suffer through something that ‘seems’ right and is ‘supposed’ to be right, when you’re unsatisfied? Sounds like a pretty boring life to me. Instead, focus on doing things that satisfy your wants and needs. Do things that make you happy.

Your heart knows what you want.

I’m a big believer in having goals, dreams, ambitions and values. And they’re stored in your heart. By staying true to the above, this will keep you going through the harder or more stressful times.

Others are here to support you.

Friends and family can help you through those harder times by usually reminding you of your focus or dreams. It’s so reassuring sharing these with loved ones, because once they know and you come to them a bit stressed or overwhelmed, they can always offer a shoulder to lean on and advice to keep striving to achieve your dreams.

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My heart taking me to London

Your heart can rescue you

If you find yourself in an awkward, uncomfortable or unknown situation or cycle, take a step back and ask yourself if this is helping contribute the person you want to be and what you want to achieve. Ask yourself how you got yourself into this situation. Was it an accident? Was it unexpected? Was it a misunderstanding? By asking yourself these questions, it will hopefully help you avoid these situations in the future.

At the end of the day, you’ve got to be happy with you.

Throughout life, it’s important to stay true to yourself. There’s nothing wrong with being selfish and doing something that you need to do. Whilst at the time you may feel awful or confused, if it’s something that will make you happier in the long run, you just need to bite the bullet and do it. Future you will thank you for your bravery.

Whilst I realize this all seems very cheesy, sometimes you really just need some cheesy words of advice to get you through. I know the past few weeks have been extremely stressful for not only myself but many of my friends and by listening to my heart, it helps reassure myself that I’m on track and happy underneath it all.

Flying High
My heart and adrenaline taking me to the edge of my comfort zone