Getting lost
This past year, I have been lost… literally and metaphorically. It all started last spring when I was faced with the decision to leave my government job. I had finally started to imagine my career path and feel confident about what I was doing, when it suddenly became impossible to stay. And then, everything turned upside down. I left my job and moved to Australia.
I hate to admit how little thought or planning went into my decision to move to Australia. Looking back, things worked out how they were supposed to, but at the time I just felt constantly lost. I’d get on a bus going in the wrong direction and get lost. I’d sit in my dark room at night, worried I’d made a huge mistake. Lost. I’d find myself making decisions and acting in ways that didn’t feel true to myself. Lost.
I have been a solo-traveller for a few years now and my travels have taken me to over 30 countries across six continents. 2025 was a big year for impulsive travel decisions (i.e., booking a “weekend getaway” to Peru). And they say one of the best things about traveling is getting lost. As someone who travels, is it wrong to admit that I hate that part?
Some of us can probably relate to the experience of taking a wrong turn in a maze of small alleys, and suddenly your Google Maps isn’t working anymore, and you start to feel the panic set it. For me, these moments are enough to make me want to hide away in my hotel the rest of the day. But I don’t, and I guess that’s what counts. But, to me, getting lost has never felt like a tool for joyous discovery, as much as a stressor.
As mentioned, I have felt lost often this past year. In so many ways. Sometimes, it feels like I am constantly lost. I can’t decide what I want to do with my life, whether I should go back to school, or if I should go be an au pair in Spain. Or worse, when I have a clear idea of what I want, I can’t figure out how to get there.
At times, it feels very overwhelming. I sometimes feel like I am in a small boat that has been untethered and gone out to a vast sea.
But, do you know what happens when you get lost? Sometimes you take the wrong bus and you end up in a beautiful place you’d never have seen. You learn hard lessons. And you build up more resilience and confidence.
I do not regret leaving my job and moving to Australia, even though I feel as lost as ever (and yes, sometimes literally get lost). Here is a list of what I’ve gained from being lost…
- I faced my fears. For weeks leading up to my one-way flight to Melbourne, I was so anxious and scared. Getting on that plane made me think twice about letting the fear of the unknown stop me from living.
- I gained perspective. Coming here with no job, house, or connections, showed me how much I’d taken for granted in the past.
- I became stronger. Building my new life here was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, and required much more resilience and mental fortitude than I expected.
- I learned to think differently about my life. Meeting people here and seeing other ways of living has changed my perspective. I still feel lost, but I recognize now there are so many paths, and not one single “right” path.
I know I’ll get lost again. That’s the nature of life and going beyond your comfort zone. Having an adventure and taking risks opens you up to being lost, but it also gives you an opportunity for growth. I still don’t love getting lost, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever enjoy it, but I appreciate it more now.
When’s the last time you got lost?
