“Traveling and Freedom are perfect partners and offer
an opportunity to grow in different directions.”
Donna Goldfein (Quote found on journeywoman.com)
I recently posted a summary of some of the best places on earth I’ve had the privilege of visiting. That certainly brought back so many great memories and others not so great.
There is one particular event in my life that really changed and helped me to become who I am today: a broken heart.
Now I normally don’t share such personal information but this is something that has been going though my mind for sometime and needed to write down.
Before we go on, I must thank two of my favorite travel writers that I admire and respect, Andi @AndiPerullo and Maria @latinAbroad. They inspired and gave me the courage to write my own story after I read their heartfelt posts.
Let me share with you How Travel Healed Me Part 1
Let’s go back in time, 14 years to be precise. I was seeing someone back in my university days. One day, out of the blue, the person left without saying goodbye. I couldn’t believe it or understand. This is a person I knew for almost 3 years!
I had to swallow my pride & hurt. I needed to find out what was going on. So I called his house and someone told me he was gone on holidays to the Caribbean. That was the last attempt. What a nice Christmas present! No need to tell you that Christmas cheers turned into holiday tears.
I lived some of the darkest days, driving myself nuts trying to figure things out. It took me quite a while to recover. In fact, I spent the next year mourning in silence, went about my business and focused my attention on my studies & work. I finally graduated and had a great opportunity to work for the government. That was the best job EVER!
So I diligently saved my $ and planned what is now known as one of the best trips of my life. Going to Europe for 2 entire months was the ultimate dream coming true! Hard work and dedication indeed paid off.
Preparations for the biggest adventures kept me so busy that I even forgot about the pain. Everything fell into place and things happened so fast!
My excitement grew as I booked my 1st transatlantic flight Montreal (YUL) -Newark (NWR) – Gatwick (LGW) (All with Continental Airlines) and received my Eurail Global pass in the mail. Everything was set.
For the next couple months I visited 12 countries in total! It seems unbelievable to me now. How happy and grateful I was for being able to be there and see things first hand!
Pictures do speak a thousand words…:)
Clockwise from left to right: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Frankfurt, Venice, Interlaken, Zürich, London, Paris.
I stood in awe, simply couldn’t believe I was admiring world-famous landmarks I had only seen on TV (I’m a self-confessed Travel Channel addict), books or magazines. It was incredible, unforgettable! I checked off things from my bucketlist.
Every single country was special but most particularly the culture, food and it’s people who played a major role in my recovery.
I crossed paths with some of the most amazing persons, whether it was on the airplane, train or on the street. A few people were God-sent, like the German guy who sat next to me on the train. He was surprised that I spoke German and we had a long chat until we arrived in Berlin. He was so sweet, he even called a cab for me (a Mercedes Benz of course) and took me to the reception desk at the youth hostel.
Then there was the funny Argentinean who became my best friend while in Amsterdam. *What happens in Amsterdam stays there* ha ha
My friend in Switzerland, who took me on a phenomenal road trip through the alps! Not only he made me laugh about my situation but made me realize that it wasn’t my loss but the other person’s.
My Italian friends made me laugh, dance & experience la dolce vita (in Milan, Venice, Florence, Bologna, Rome, Napoli & more).
Last, but not least, my new friends and familia in Barcelona. My trip couldn’t have ended in a better place, in one of the best, dynamic, sensational and vibrant cities on the planet. Leaving was simply the hardest thing but it wasn’t a goodbye. I will visit you again!
Come to think of it, this painful heartbreak was definitely one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I now consider it as a blessing (even though it hurt like hell and left me in tiny pieces back then). I got back on my feet, gave myself courage & strength to go on with my life and enjoy it to the fullest. They say that things happen for a reason right?
I have to thank Joe (his real name) for everything he taught me. I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher. You earned your PhD. Loving him as much as I did truly changed me…forever. It transformed and made me stronger for the next adventures in my life. It was necessary but I realized it only later.
“I became strong when you set me free. And I became even stronger when I let you go.”
The only thing I would tell him if we ever cross paths again is to never EVER call or come back uninvited. If your life is so fabulous (how does the world look from up there?) then why look for me if there wasn’t something missing? He already caused enough hurt and damage in this lifetime and has tried to make up for it but it will not work.
I believe that life is a boomerang and whatever that person deserves will eventually come back to them. I just keep going and not looking back.
(Do you think that’s where the story ends? Think again! Part 2 has more punch & will soon follow*) So stay tuned 🙂
Do you have comments and stories to share?
If you do, feel free to comment or email me 🙂
Thank you for reading.
I’ll be back soon!
Much l♥ve always,
Tashi Delek, All the best
Karla
Traveller Soul 
Traveling is the ultimate healer!!! Thanks so much for the shout out. Your story is definitely going to inspire a lot of people.
Thank you so much for your comment bella. You know this better than me. I thank you again for being the inspiration behind the post. Writing it was therapeutic and a relief. This was a major event in my life and now that I look back, I bow in gratitude. It was definitely a trigger because I needed the strength and wisdom. I have accomplished so much and gotten very far!
I am sure better & greater things are on the way!
Thanks for your time, patience & your continuous support.
I also hope this inspires other people to get out there and explore this beautiful planet of ours.
We’ll talk soon!
Lots of l♥ve,
Kay
Thank you so much for stopping by and for your words of wisdom! I am happy you liked it. 🙂
Yes those rough times & pain you talk about may not seem good or nice when you live them but after you look back and realize that they were necessary.
You made me laugh so hard, cartoon windshield wipers! That’s pretty awesome. 🙂
What really surprises me the most is that how come some people, even if it’s just 1 single person on the planet can come into your life and totally change it or turn it upside down.
It took me so many years to really digest this but you know what it was indeed the best thing to happen. I wouldn’t have it any other way because I have lived so many incredible experiences and gone around the world!
As my favorite author Dr Brian Weiss says: ”Soulmates may meet, stay together until a task or life lesson is completed, then move on. This is not a tragedy, only a matter of learning.”
This person was one of the most important in my life but we had to go our separate ways but wait til you read part two. You will not believe it. It was just incredible what happened.
I bow in gratitude to life as it has been nothing but great to me. I trust that everything happens for our highest good.
Can’t wait to talk to you in person!
* Hugs*
Kay 🙂
Travel is definitely the ultimate healer. It’s really wonderful you took the initiative and visited these countries despite everything. I have so many friends who are scared to even leave their hometowns…and the best of all? As you say, the people you meet everywhere. They take my by surprise with their kindness, they bring me great joy! I’m so glad to have met another traveler soulmate!
Thank you very much for your lovely comment Charu! I just got to read it 🙂
Yes, I didn’t let sadness or pain get the best of me. On the contrary it helped me so much because I became stronger in the process.
I also know people who are scared of going out of town and explore all the wonderful places there are on this planet, kind of sad but there is not much we can do about it.
Indeed, the people you meet is the greatest reward and lifelong friendships can be formed. I know that because my best friends that I met on the road are true gems and for that I am quite grateful.
Aw, how sweet of you to call me a travel soulmate. I am just really honored, lucky and thankful that I got the chance to meet you.
All the advice and words of wisdom have stayed with me and motivated me.
Thank you so much for everything.
Big *hug*
Kay xo
It may sound trite, but it is generally true that what does not make us bitter makes us better.
Congrats on making the “100 Reasons To Travel” list by Trip Logic – http://goo.gl/7yH6Q. As a fairly new blogger, I was pleased to make the list as well (# 16). If you have a moment, check out my admittedly quirky travel blog at http://www.travelbyterry.com. It’s a fun read, or meant to be at least. ;0)
I agree it’s true. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger too!
Some people are true teachers and well once you learn your lesson, it’s time to move on right? 🙂
I am following you Terry! How are things on your side of the world? I’ve some catch up reading to do 😉
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Thanks for sharing this. It’s not always easy to share such personal things. I am still uneasy about sharing publicly but travel has been the greatest thing in my life these days. I went on my RTW because it was my last resort. I had lost my best friend and mother with a short span of each other not long ago. The last few years have been nothing but dark days….till I made that decision to leave everything behind and travel. It was the therapy I needed. Still is.
You’re so welcome dear.
Trust me it wasn’t easy letting it go and write publicly about it but I had to.
It was a tremendous emotional release and was quite necessary if you ask me.
I had been keeping it all to myself all those years until THAT person from the past came back into my life and turned it upside down AGAIN.
Like where the hell did he find the courage to just show up & open the wound that took YEARS to heal.
Quite convenient for him and very coward too cause as he came back, he just left again without saying goodbye.
He was EXactly what I do not need or want. EVER. AGAIN!
I’m pretty sure he reads this so there, take it!
As I mentioned in the post, going rtw has been 1 of the best decisions I’ve ever taken.
I honestly think that travels make you see the world, life as we know it with different eyes. You grow so much in every sense!
All the incredible people that cross your path are true blessings too.
I’m so sorry about your mother and your best friend.
Losing loved ones is certainly not easy but it’s life. We are all here for a definite time and we must make the most of it right?
Perhaps you can take comfort in the fact that they would be very happy and proud of you for all you have accomplished so far! You are doing pretty good 😉 They are with you at all times and seeing you happy is what they want I’m positive.
I don’t know if you read this post: https://travellersoul76.com/2013/04/02/a-journey-to-eilean-donan-castle-scotland/
I lost someone so dear too and sometimes I want to kick myself for not having been a better friend, better love, better everything. There was not much else I could do and well I had to accept the fact, grieve and move on! Well I celebrated 10 years of his departure and I cried hard on the anniversary but I remembered what he always said: “be a warrior and stronger than anyone during difficult times”.
I understand completely when you say that you’ve had some dark days but you know we all heal at a different pace. What others think is their problem not yours.
Much brighter days and fabulous things are waiting to happen. I am so sure!
So let’s cheer up & expect nothing but the best dear.
You sure should come to Toronto so that we could talk more about it & hey have a glass of BUBBLY to celebrate LIFE 😉
Oopsie, my comment just turned into a post lol
Thank you for taking the time to visit and we’ll talk soon yes?
*Hug*
Moi 😉
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