Jesse Miller Travels is a blog that is dedicated to helping you explore the world. Specifically and more importantly, it’s about making the deliberate decision to leave your comfort zone and then to subsequently thrive outside of your comfort zone. The idea to start this blog came to me in 2016 which was a monumental year. Before then, I had been working for the engineering team of the Google Fibe
r Project in Atlanta, GA for four years. It wasn’t a bad job; I enjoyed a life of financial security and a promising future for several years. However, several things happened that year which changed everything. Long story short, I dropped everything and left home with two backpacks and a dream to become a travel writer. Prior to 2016 I had spent over 6 months in foreign countries and those stories will eventually get told; however, for the purpose of this introduction I focus on last year as it was the year that changed everything and inspired this blog. My 2016 Travel Summary:
64 days of backpacking
9 countries and roughly 26 cities visited
500 miles walked (courtesy of Fitbit)
2,170 miles driven in rental cars
14,270 miles flown on planes
900 miles traveled by trains and buses
Some things I will never forget; I witnessed the attempted Turkish military coup firsthand in the city of Istanbul in July, I camped out illegally in a park in Edinburgh, Scotland on a cold and rainy night in September, I hiked for 20 miles without stopping in the wild Yosemite Valley, despite having absolutely no food and very little water. I worked on a farm in the mountains of southern Spain for several weeks where I earned the nickname “Captain Miller the Cactus Killer” and I camped on some magnificent looking cliffs on the southern coast of England. I forged many friendships with fellow travelers and locals of the land alike. I had several romantic encounters, one of which resulted in a very long distance relationship. I ate Hungarian Goulash that would make your mother cry and drank Turkish spirits that were so powerful they’d make anyone cry. After all was said and done, in October I returned home to Atlanta with a broken heart, a broken bank account and a new perspective. Nothing about my journey has been easy; in fact, at times it has been downright painful and/or terrifying. But I don’t regret a single moment of it. So far, I’ve come out on top big time. A life on the road is a life of trials and tribulations. Don’t shy away from these moments! This is a life from which much can be gained if approached with a growth mindset. This is the best advice I can give anyone; if we embrace the hardship in our path, we gain so much more from the experience of walking down it. Wisdom, confidence, new skills, life-long friendships, are just several examples of how traveling is rewarding. These things amount to something more valuable than anything you will ever own. We all have something to gain from accepting an adventure in a foreign land. This is why I travel and the purpose of this blog is to inspire others to do likewise. Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for real stories of difficult decisions, hilarious mistakes, dangerous situations, awkward encounters, and frustrating struggles that have amounted to the most valuable education I’ve ever received. OTHER THINGS ABOUT ME
I was born and raised in Decatur, GA
I am fitness / health enthusiast
I have a passion for the outdoors and some day wish to have a career in Environmental Conservation
I hold two degrees from Georgia Southern University:
B.A. – International Studies
B.A. – Spanish Language Studies
I am a professionally qualified cartographer/GIS mapping technician
I’m a programmer and web developer
I’m a hiking and camping enthusiast
I love to read and write
And more than anything, I love to travel! HOW YOU CAN HELP ME
1) Go to jessemillertravels.com and sign up for my newsletter.
2) Share, comment, like my Page/posts if you feel so inclined.
3) Everything I provide is free and donations are not necessary but certainly appreciated! Just follow this link to contribute to my campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/jessemillertravels
