I love my life and I’ve no complaints, but when I travel, I travel to forget.
My name is Tina Buell and I’m almost 40. I’m a single mom and my 5-year-old son is autistic. I live in a modest house, drive a modest car, and have never been married. Even though I’m very happy, my life didn’t turn out the way I thought it would. Rather than feed my midlife crisis with a new Corvette and a relationship with a 20-year-old, I self-medicate with I.T.T.: Intensive Travel Therapy. And I use it liberally.
Travel is an exhilarating rush that leaves me feeling like a million bucks! When I’m jet-setting, life’s accomplishments, or lack thereof, no longer matter. Travel is a privilege for those who make time for it, and I’m proud to say I recognize its importance. I’m a giddy member of the Damn, This Is Exciting Club and a thrilled card holder of the You Had To Be There Society.
Travel has become an integral part of my family, which in my book, makes me a rockstar. Who cares if my name doesn’t sport credentials after it, if my car’s a decade old, or if I spend more money on plane tickets than designer jeans? I don’t need rhinestones on my butt to feel important or look wealthy; I’m rich with life experience!
When I was a little girl, I dreamt of one day growing up to be Miss America or a Dallas Cowgirl Cheerleader. I also imagined I’d be married to a doctor and living in a two-story brick house with a white picket fence and two children. That’s not what has happened, but Intensive Travel Therapy has fulfilled dreams I didn’t even know to dream. Even though my life has evolved into something different than my childhood ambitions, when I travel, I’m LTD—living the dream, baby!
All photos by Trekaroo/imsnow
Go Tina! Indeed traveling to write or writing to travel has always been one of my dream jobs. Now I can do it and allow other people do this too. When I travel I feel like all my sense are awake and to me to really soak in life is living the dream and living life. Thank you for sharing.
Tina…you ARE a rockstar!
Love it! Love your view on life – and your card carrying status. You are a rock star to that adorable boy!
You and I have a lot in common. I too have found travel to be my therapy. It’s a way to realize that there’s so much more to this world than our issues. Join my Google Group to discuss how travel has been therapeutic. https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/111633755737344743269
I love how you celebrate! Just because our life doesn’t follow the “plan” we had when we were in our 20’s doesn’t mean that it’s not amazing just the way that it turned out! You keep Living The Dream baby! 🙂