The Escape Journals

Sacrifices of Traveling

Missed Christmases, birthdays and goodbyes: what people gave up to see the world, and why they’d do it again.

Featured Stories

Christmas Without My Mother

Kel

What tore me apart the most was missing Christmas with my mother. My family always comes together for Christmas, and this one was especially meaningful—it was the first in two years that my mother wasn’t in the hospital, in an induced coma, fighting for her life. I hadn’t even realized this when I booked my tickets, but as the holiday got closer, the reality started to sink in. Christmas was a hard day, no doubt, but a FaceTime call and plenty of tears made me feel a little less far from home.

Even beyond that, being away from my family and friends was tough because I’m so close to them. There were so many special moments on the trip that I wished I could have shared with them. But that’s just part of the journey. They were incredibly supportive, always eager to call and hear about what I’d been doing, and it meant the world to have them check in on me so often.

There were definitely days when it was hard—emotional for many reasons—and times when I seriously considered booking a ticket home. But I’m also incredibly headstrong. I reminded myself of all the effort I had put into planning and preparing for this trip, the experiences I would be cutting short if I left, and the reality that I’d likely want to come back eventually to finish what I’d started. Not everything worth doing is easy. Sometimes, we have to push through those darker moments to fully appreciate the value of the journey.

You’re Allowed to Feel How You Feel

Krista

Ah, sacrifices. We all make them in various areas of life, and travel is no exception. Relocating to London permanently for my career has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I usually handle being out of my comfort zone and environment well, but that’s not the challenge for me. The real struggle has been keeping my mental state afloat.

I recently came out of a very depressive episode triggered by the move. It happened much sooner than I was ready for, but I felt like I had no choice. This was my dream, and I made it happen despite the rushed timeline. The first few months were exciting and new, but as I settled in, it became increasingly difficult. I missed my favorite holidays and had my first birthday completely alone in a new country. Thankfully, I have some amazing friends and colleagues who’ve supported me, but those days were still the hardest and loneliest—especially for someone as close to their family as I am. I miss my dog, my family, my boyfriend, my house, the smells of my hometown, the familiarity of the streets, the sounds—everything.

One of the hardest sacrifices was putting distance in my relationship. My boyfriend, originally from England, moved to my hometown for work, and we spent the past few years building our life together. When this opportunity arose, I felt I couldn’t turn it down. I decided to make the move, hoping everything else would fall into place. But it’s been incredibly difficult not to feel like I walked away from our relationship. Most of my homesickness stems from stepping away from the life we were creating together. I was so looking forward to building a home and a future together, but I hoped we could make the best of this situation. We’re both doing our best, but this feels like the ultimate test for any relationship.

Although I’ve been feeling down a lot lately, I’ve been trying to push myself to get out and do things instead of staying in my room and sulking. Some days, especially during this gloomy winter, I just want to crawl into bed after work and shut out the city. And that’s okay—you’re allowed to feel how you feel. It’s all part of the experience and the learning process. But one thing you can’t do is give up. If something is wrong or if you’re unhappy, only you have the power to change it.

You have to be strong enough to give yourself a chance. I remind myself that I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t handle this. Seeking help is okay. Asking for help is okay. And realizing that a move isn’t right for you is absolutely okay too. The most important thing is to give it time and give yourself the opportunity to adapt.

Each Day Is a Gift

Justin

In today’s world, technology allows us to stay as connected to our friends and family as we want. With tools like Skype, FaceTime, and instant messaging, it’s not that hard to keep in touch with loved ones. Of course, it’s not the same as sitting down and sharing a meal together, but there’s no reason you can’t both make the effort to stay connected while you’re on the road.

I’ve often found that my friends and family really appreciate it when I video call to share a little update or give them a mini-tour of wherever I happen to be at the moment. Small gestures like that can break down the distance and make you feel closer to those you miss.

One thing I always carry with me is a deep appreciation for wherever I am, the people I’m with, and the experiences I’m living in that moment. What I’m trying to say is that your “home,” your family, and the things you miss will always be there when you return—with one exception. Each day is a gift, and it’s so important to let your loved ones know what they mean to you because life is unpredictable. You never know when you might lose someone to illness or an accident.

Share your love and appreciation with those who matter most, and they’ll be excited to see the world through your eyes, your stories, and your experiences.

A Note From My Mom

Meredith

There are many sacrifices people must make to pursue long-term travel, whether it’s leaving behind a job, a partner, family, friends, or pets. For me, the hardest sacrifice was letting go of what was expected of me. I had to learn to release the idea that I needed to follow the conventional path that everyone else seemed to be taking. Most people my age had graduated college and immediately started a stable, full-time 9-to-5 job. I chose to sacrifice the comfort and stability of financial and job security. It was daunting, especially because I hadn’t met anyone else who had made a similar choice, which made it feel even scarier.

When I first arrived in Bali, I felt incredibly depressed and anxious. I was really lonely—I didn’t know anyone, and the 12-hour time difference made it hard to communicate with my friends and family back home. While I was just starting my day, everyone back home was ending theirs and heading to bed. Outside of work hours and before I had made friends in Bali, I didn’t have anyone to talk to. That loneliness, combined with experiencing so many new, scary, yet exciting things, was mentally challenging. It felt isolating not to have anyone to share those moments with.

At the same time, for the first time in my life, I was making decisions entirely for myself and trusting my own judgment without seeking anyone’s advice or approval. While that was liberating, it was also terrifying. I constantly questioned whether I was making the right choices for myself. On top of that, I missed milestones and events back home—moving out of my childhood home, friends’ birthdays, and even the first reunion with my college friends a few months after graduating.

The biggest mental challenge for me was being truly on my own, surrounded by complete unfamiliarity. That disconnect from the life I had back home was profound. Everything familiar suddenly felt foreign as I adjusted to a new culture and way of life.

On the hardest days, when I felt homesick and just wanted to go back, one thing kept me going: a handwritten note my mom had given me before I left. It said: “You are brave. You are bright. You are beautiful. You were born to be a change-maker and to make positive impacts on whatever you touch.”

She told me to read that note whenever I doubted myself or felt homesick. Her words brought me peace and reminded me of my courage. They reassured me that I was exactly where I needed to be.

Those positive affirmations made all the difference during tough times. My advice to anyone experiencing similar feelings of homesickness, loneliness, sadness, or anxiety is to speak words of love, optimism, and kindness to yourself. When you focus on positivity and speak it into existence, your perspective—and the way you feel about yourself and your circumstances—can change drastically.

Your Life Is Important Too

Ludvig

The things I had to sacrifice were the comfort of social connections (friends and family) and the security of stable work back home. This made me sad, but I was also deeply longing for new experiences—both within myself and out in the world.

I did miss birthdays, graduations, and other important events. Of course, that made me sad, but my perspective on it is quite simple: I (hopefully) have a long life ahead of me. There will be so many more years when I’m closer to home, able to attend all those celebrations. I’m not saying they’re unimportant—far from it. What I am saying is that your life is important. In the long run, both you and your friends and family will cherish the fact that you took time for yourself to improve your well-being through travel—or whatever it may be.

With today’s technology, it’s such a blessing to stay in touch through Zoom, Skype, or video calls.

One of the hardest challenges I faced when starting my travels was learning to stay relaxed as a person. Subconsciously, I carried this lingering thought that I needed to be “successful” in some way, as if I had to prove something to others. This mindset was negative for me and something I was already trying to let go of before my travels began.

Another challenge was becoming increasingly aware that I am alone in my choices. It’s up to me—and only me—to take responsibility for becoming the person I want to be. That realization was one of the hardest things to come to terms with.

Traveling didn’t always feel 100% right, but what did feel absolutely right was learning to relax, embrace the opportunities presented to me, and keep seeking out the good things to be found wherever I was in the world.

True Friendships Survive Distance

Elisabeth

I missed my old flatmate’s entire pregnancy and the birth of her baby. She’s a good friend, so it felt both sad and surreal. By the time I returned after eleven months, she already had her baby, and I hadn’t even seen her pregnant. It made me worry that I might miss out on what my friends were doing together and that they might forget me a little. But I came to realize that true friendships aren’t affected by distance.

Some days were hard while traveling, and I really missed my family and friends. I missed family events and even the 30th birthday of my best friend. But despite all that, it was worth it. The person I missed most was probably my mum, but we FaceTimed often, which made things much easier. Even with those moments of homesickness, I never felt the need to cut my travels short.

Carving My Own Path

Josh

Sacrifices… well, to be honest, I didn’t give this subject much thought in the lead-up to traveling, nor did I dwell on it much while I was away. There was the occasional thought about missing major milestones—like birthdays or the first steps of close friends’ babies—but it was being part of group chats that really made me feel the sting of being away. I missed being in the loop. I had no clue about the jokes everyone was laughing at or the plans being made that I couldn’t join.

The hardest part of being away, though, was the unexpected—the fear of not being there if something went wrong. What if a close friend or family member became seriously ill or injured and I was too far away to help? Thankfully, nothing like that ever happened, but the worry was always in the back of my mind.

What kept me going was knowing that everything I was experiencing—everything I was seeing, doing, and hearing—was completely new and unique to me. These were moments that I knew many of my friends and family would have loved to share, but they were mine alone. I was carving my own path in the world, not simply following someone else’s trail.

My back injury almost made me fly home earlier than planned, but aside from that, I wouldn’t have come back for anything less than a truly dire situation.

All They Want Is My Happiness

Anonymous

The hardest part was being away from my family. I missed so much—uncles, grandparents, and pets passed away, and I couldn’t be there to support my family during those difficult times. I was away. And being away also meant missing out on precious moments with the people I love most. Christmas was especially hard—it always made me feel homesick. Thankfully, I have a sister in New Zealand, and I spent the holidays with her, but the seasons are different there, so it didn’t feel entirely Christmas-y anyway.

But it’s not just about Christmas. Being away brings a kind of homesickness you don’t anticipate. You can’t go for a Sunday walk with your dad or hug your mum when you need to. Even though you can always call them, it’s just not the same.

The only thing that gets me through those intense waves of homesickness is reminding myself that I wouldn’t be truly happy or fully myself if I weren’t doing this. And knowing that I’m happy is all my parents would ever want for me.

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Always Home for Christmas

Jenna

There will always be sacrifices to make, but it’s a choice you have the power to make. For me, Christmas is a holiday I’m not willing to spend away from my mom. No matter where I am, I make it home for Christmas. This past year was special because, for the first time, she came to meet me instead—and it was amazing to have her with me in the Canary Islands!

I’ve traveled for varying lengths of time, from a week to a year. Naturally, the longer you’re away, the harder it can be, especially during holidays you’d normally spend with family, friends, and even pets. But there are things you can control and things you can’t. For instance, I couldn’t control if my grandparents got sick, but I always made sure to have excellent travel insurance and extra savings to get home if needed.

Thankfully, I’ve faced relatively few truly challenging times while traveling (knock on wood). One of the hardest moments happened during my first trip when my mom’s spa was broken into and robbed. She called me hysterical, and I felt helpless, frustrated that I couldn’t be there to support her. Experiences like that teach you new ways to be present for loved ones from afar and show you how you handle stressful situations.

For me, staying connected with family and friends—whether through phone calls or social media—makes tough moments more manageable. Receiving pictures from home also helps me feel closer, almost as if I’m there with them. Luckily, I’ve never been someone who gets very homesick, so these connections are enough to keep me grounded while I’m away.

It’s Never the Perfect Time

Ben

Everyone has to sacrifice something to make their trip happen. It will never feel like the perfect time—there’s always something. A birthday, a graduation, a job, a boyfriend or girlfriend, and so on.

For me, it was missing one of my brother’s army course graduations, a birthday, countless moments with friends and family back home, and much more.

In my opinion, you need to find an opportunity and go for it. If this is truly what you want, the people around you will respect your decision. :)

One Hundred Percent Present

Emilie

I didn’t feel homesick at all during my entire six-month trip. At the beginning, especially in New Zealand, I struggled to let go of my cellphone—I was addicted. But when I got to Maui and found a place that felt like home, something shifted. Maybe it was also the time difference, but I started to disconnect and became less dependent on messages from friends. I was living my best life, and I didn’t want to be halfway in my adventure and halfway back home. I needed to let go to fully embrace the experience. To be aware. To be 100% present.

I found love during this trip—family love. It might sound cheesy, but for the first time in my life, I experienced deep, genuine family love. Don’t get me wrong; I love my parents and my brother, but I never knew you could form such strong bonds with people who are so different from you.

One thing that struck me, which I think every traveler experiences, is how people take care of each other. When you travel, there’s an unspoken, spontaneous solidarity and support among travelers. People understand what you’re feeling and experiencing, and they look out for one another. It’s truly wonderful.

Only Three Months

Zach

Being away from my family for so long was tough since I had never been apart from them for more than a month. I missed them deeply, but I reminded myself it was only a three-month trip, and it would pass before I knew it.

Just in Time for the Weddings

Sian

I was lucky—I didn’t miss any major milestones while I was away. Starting young meant that by the time I returned to the UK at 28, I was just in time for weddings, babies, and the like. I missed my mum a lot, but FaceTime and WhatsApp make it so much easier to stay in constant contact nowadays! The times I truly felt homesick were when all my girlfriends would get together for a birthday or when I couldn’t be with my family at Christmas. Still, surrounding yourself with wonderful people helps—it makes things a little easier as you create new memories with others you love.

Moments of Clarity

Joshua

It was hard to leave friends and family, but real connections will always last. You’ll never get back the time spent doing things you don’t love. What kept me going during bouts of homesickness were those moments of clarity—those in-between moments when I realized I was completely on the right path.

Finding Out Who Truly Cares

Katie

I was fortunate not to have had any major sacrifices. I was at a point in my life where I had the flexibility to make the decision to go. The hardest part for me was feeling distant from my friends and family back home and worrying that I might no longer be important in their lives. That was definitely the biggest mental struggle I faced, but ultimately, it revealed who truly cares and who will always be there for me. It can get lonely.

Why Worry Before You’re Back?

Anais

Something I constantly thought about was, “What am I going to do when I get back?” I found myself stressing over it a lot. But I remember talking to a bartender in Eindhoven who said, “Why are you worrying about that if you’re not back yet?” He was absolutely right. I was lucky that the only thing waiting for me back home was my pet Yorkie. So, I let go of the worry, relaxed, and started enjoying my trip so much more!

I did miss my brother’s high school graduation and a couple of friends’ birthdays, but I made sure to call them while I was on the road. Honestly, I didn’t really miss much—except my bed and bathtub, to be honest—but I knew I’d see them eventually! Social media and WhatsApp made it so easy to stay connected with my family and friends.

I never felt the urge to go back home early. If anything, I wanted to stay in Spain for a few more days. Is that bad?

Nothing Left to Give Up

Lydia

I didn’t have any sacrifices to make, and that’s actually why I left. I had to go through a breakup to give myself the freedom to travel. The only time I didn’t feel good was when I realized my own boundaries in the relationship—what they were and how they weren’t being respected at that moment. But even then, it became something I learned from.

Tenfold in Richness of Soul

Carter

Sacrifices come with every decision in life, and traveling is no exception. No matter how enchanting the idea of new adventures may seem, there are inevitable sacrifices to be made. Each of us lives within unique and deeply personal circumstances, but the sacrifices we can all relate to range from missing holidays filled with loved ones and friends to being away from the furry companions we cherish as part of our families. It’s tough—there’s no doubt about that.

Beyond the obvious, there are also more abstract sacrifices. The simple truth is that life goes on without you when you leave home. This understanding is one of the reasons I choose to keep my travels shorter. Your friends continue with their weekend plans; your dog still needs to be fed, walked, and cared for; and the work left behind at the office must still be completed. In some ways, the space you leave behind is inevitably filled by other people and responsibilities.

I don’t want this to deter you because it’s simply the nature of stepping away for an extended time. Rest assured, everyone still loves and cares for you deeply, but the world keeps turning. Always hold that reality close to your heart and mind. By keeping my trips shorter than most, I don’t feel the weight of these sacrifices as heavily as someone traveling for months at a time.

This is an essential point to consider as you navigate the balance between exploration and your commitments at home. Each of us must independently weigh the trade-offs that come with the pursuit of adventure and self-discovery. In the end, it’s always worth it. For what you sacrifice in time with loved ones and the comforts of familiarity, you gain tenfold in the richness of soul and the untold stories waiting in distant corners of the world. Do yourself a favor and take that step.

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