Our Wildway Crew highlights ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Within each of us lies the potential to live life to the fullest. We have the ability to choose our own destiny, live without fear or limits, challenge ourselves and grow, do and be whatever makes us happy. We have the ability to be free. It's how you live a Wildway of life and there are people all around us inspiring others with their actions. We want to celebrate that by highlighting and honoring those who #LiveWild.
Meet this week's featured Wildway Crew member:
Grace Terry
Wildway of Choice = Coconut Cashew Granola & Java Chip Hot Cereal
Meet Grace. Grace has always followed the rules and done everything that is expected of her. But as her college graduation is quickly approaching, Grace has decided to do things her own way for once. Instead of "settling down" and jumping straight into Corporate America, she's headed out for a 2-month solo backpacking trip abroad. A trip that she knows will expand her horizons, push her outside her comfort zone, and bring clarity to what she truly wants out of life.
Here is Grace's story in her own words:
"I lived the first 22 years of my life in an intensely structured schedule. I grew up as a competitive dancer, so my days pretty much just consisted of going to school and then going to rehearsal. I have always done what is “expected” of me. I took challenging classes and got good grades, I worked hard at all of my hobbies, I chose to study Finance in college so I could get a good job, and the list goes on. My whole life I have been too afraid to take risks and go against what people expect me to do. Until now.
I graduate from Boston University this May, and I am taking two months off to travel throughout the Middle East, parts of Europe, and walk the Camino de Santiago. I don’t have a job lined up for when I get back. I don’t even know what city I want to live in. All I know is that I want to take this time to travel because if/when I do get into the corporate world it may be awhile until I have the opportunity to do anything like this again.
This is what I crave. I never imagined I would be okay with the uncertainty of my future, but I am. In fact, I kind of like it. Everything happens for a reason, and things will fall into place. This is one of the biggest lessons I have had to learn. There is no need to fret about circumstances that are so distant. Doing so takes away from the present moment.
Even though I am okay with the fact that I am putting my career on hold to travel, I know it is hard for others to understand. Consequently, I am still dealing with some internal conflict about the whole thing. All my life I have heard two major ideas about career paths... 1) If you love your job you will never work a day in your life, and 2) find a job that affords you to pursue your passions. I still cannot decide which I agree with more, or which road is the better one to follow. Those who experience the two hand in hand are very, very lucky.
I feel that my story is just beginning. I am just realizing what it is in life that makes me happiest. I recently took the plunge and went on my first solo backpacking trip throughout Peru. Hands down the best decision I ever made. I learned more about myself in those 10 days then I have the past 22 years. I don’t want lots of things and I don’t want my success to be measured by an annual salary. I want experiences. That is all."
Live Wild. Backpack Wild.
