Meet Yuliya

I would love to take a moment to formally introduce myself,

(insert eye contact and a firm handshake), my name is Yuliya and I am delighted to have made your acquaintance!!! 

I would love to get to know you, so please don't ever hesitate to reach out.

You may not know this about me, but one day, not so long ago, I was *terrified* to step out of my comfort zone and hid behind my multitude of "reasons" (excuses) from chasing my dreams. 

I knew I was meant for more.

I knew this nearly a decade and a half ago, yet it took me until *after* my 30th birthday to finally take fate by the horns, gather all the bravery I had, and GO ALL IN! And I am forever grateful, I did. 

But let's back it up. What happened before?

Quite a bit has happened actually and I am very grateful for that too. 

• Back in high school, I was a young Ukrainian immigrant who spoke no English and had to learn the language and the academics, as well as the intricacies of American teen life.
• Completing high school in English, taking college-level classes in my junior and senior year, and graduating with the IB Diploma, was maybe the hardest thing I've done to date. 
• Even though things were hard, I was always extremely fortunate to have had the opportunities I had. Perhaps the challenges I faced then, prepared and helped me step out of my comfort zone 10 years later. 

But before that leap of faith ever took place, I first had to marinate on my dreams and goals for a bit. By 'a bit' I mean a decade. I knew what I wanted (to have time and money to travel "slow-style"). Even more importantly, I knew what I did not want (be chained to a corporate ladder with a monetary chain and a three week PTO maximum). Yet, I had absolutely no clue how to even begin to achieve that reality. 

So for the lack of better ideas, I ended up yo-yo-ing between cushy corporate jobs, flexible hospitality jobs, and gig economy opportunities all through my twenties, just to taste a little bit of that freedom I so desperately desired and still pay the bills. 

As the years came and went one by one, I was getting into my late twenties... I was doing all the things. And my life was pretty great. With garden, boyfriend, chickens, jobs, friends. Yet, I was kinda worried, because...

I knew I was meant for so much more.

So one day as this thought came up more and more, I saw an ad that led me to a video. The lady in the video said one darn profound thing:

"All you have to do is to decide."

It hit me like the ice-bucket challenge.

That's literally all it takes to change your life. 

That may sound too simplistic. And perhaps it is, way more went into making it happen for realzies, yet the first thing that got the ball rolling was that faithful DECISION. 

Not too long after, I sold most of my crap, gathered as much cash as I could, and headed west with nothing but 2 suitcases and a hula hoop. 

I have never been to Hawaii before in my life, and only knew two people who already lived there (here) at the time. Yet, I went ALL THE WAY OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE to create the tropical lifestyle I have today. 

Today, I make it my mission to show YOU what's possible.

You have the power to make your dreams happen. But you don't have to do it all alone. 

Join my community for people who Travel & Live by Design to get the support and encouragement to help you along.

Search for #storytime within the group if you want to hear more of my travel-tales, including my childhood and teen travel stories.