Before the Adventure Begins: My August Intentions

It’s August tomorrow, and I’ve been thinking a lot about what my intentions are for the month.

Usually, I don’t set out specific goals or make a monthly to-do list. I tend to just move through each month and see where life takes me. But this August feels a little different.

At the end of the month, I’ll be traveling to Europe with my best friends. We’re going to attend our friend’s wedding in Romania, and then my best friend and I will be traveling through Italy for two weeks. It’s going to be one of the greatest adventures, and I can just feel it.

I’ve dreamed about traveling with friends for years, and the fact that it’s actually happening still feels a little surreal.

At the same time, I’ve noticed my mind already jumping ahead.

I’ve been researching, making lists, double-checking plans, and thinking through details. But I’ve also found myself mentally rehearsing situations that haven’t even happened yet. Right now, my mind is thinking ten steps ahead of everything.

Sometimes, I forget that preparing for a trip and worrying about every possible outcome aren’t the same thing.

So instead of filling August with expectations, I want to fill it with intentions. Little reminders for how I hope to move through this month.

I want to enjoy the anticipation without letting overthinking steal it.

Planning a trip can be exciting, but my mind has a way of turning excitement into anxiety. Instead of just feeling excited, I find myself worrying about things that could go wrong.

I don’t want to spend weeks stressing over things that haven’t even happened yet. I want to have room for surprises, spontaneity, and the simple joy of knowing I’m about to experience places I’ve always dreamed of visiting.

My travel anxiety especially gets the best of me.

I think about the long hours of being trapped on a plane. I think about having to switch plans to get to our final destination. I think about all of the unknowns that come with traveling somewhere completely new.

I’ll be honest, traveling can be really challenging for me. I easily get overwhelmed by the people, the noises, the smells, the feeling of entrapment, and even something as simple as using an airplane bathroom.

My goal is usually to sleep through it all because it’s the only way I don’t feel so anxious.

I’ve been known to have meltdowns. I’m vocal about my frustrations and my emotional exhaustion. When I become overwhelmed, it’s not something I hide well. Let’s just say, you can see it, hear it, and sometimes I feel like everyone around me knows I’m struggling.

That’s why it’s important for me to pack my sensory items and the things that help calm my nervous system. I want to give myself the tools to feel safe and supported.

I want to spend time with my friends.

One of the things I’m looking forward to most isn’t just seeing beautiful places—it’s sharing them with people I care about.

I want to explore a new city together, laugh over meals, wander unfamiliar streets, and make memories that we’ll talk about years from now.

Sometimes I think we get so caught up in making sure everything goes perfectly that we forget the reason we’re doing something in the first place.

My friends and I have known each other for over twenty years. We’ve been through nearly every stage of life together. From our teenage years to our late thirties, we’ve experienced so many different chapters side by side.

It’s truly unique to have friendships that remain so strong over the years. We always see each other as often as we can, and I feel incredibly lucky to have such a close-knit group of people in my life.

I’ve had people tell me that it’s surprising to have such a close group of friends after so many years. I think that’s what makes it even more special.

I know we’ll be going out for dinners, drinks, and exploring all that Romania has to offer.

One of my favorite memories spent with them was our trips to Big Bear. We always rented the same cabin every year for a few years. We had a beautiful lakefront cabin where we would sled, play games, make dinners, and just have the best time laughing and having fun.

Those are some of the best memories I’ve shared with them, and I know this trip will create even more.

I want to quiet my mind.

Not because I expect my anxiety to magically disappear, but because I don’t want it to narrate every experience.

I want to remind myself that I can handle more than I give myself credit for.

For a long time, I’ve let anxiety convince me that I need to prepare for every possible scenario in order to feel safe. But sometimes, the only way to learn that I’m capable is by allowing myself to experience things instead of constantly trying to control them.

I want to trust myself more.

Even though I might struggle with traveling, I realize that every time I do it, I somehow get through it. Even with all of the mishaps that happen along the way, I still pull myself together and keep going.

The first time I ever traveled to Europe was to visit my friend who was working as an au pair in Denmark.

I had a ten-hour flight from Los Angeles to London, and then London to Denmark. When I got to Heathrow, I was so overwhelmed because of how huge it was. I had to rush to get to my next flight, and I was crying the whole time, rushing as fast as I could, trying to get directions from person to person.

I was so exhausted that I cried all the way to Denmark. I was in a meltdown and panic that lasted longer than expected.

But once I saw my friend waiting for me, I immediately felt safe again.

Even though it was a challenge, I’m proud of myself for doing it all alone. I’m proud that I managed to get through it without completely giving up.

It made me realize that I’m stronger than I think I am.

I want to write about what I’m living.

Some of my favorite memories have been preserved because I took the time to write them down.

Writing has always been how I process the world around me. It helps me notice the little things—the moments that might otherwise pass by without me realizing how special they were.

I don’t want to wait until I get home and rely on memory alone.

I want to capture the conversations, the meals, the unexpected detours, the little moments of joy, and the way a place makes me feel while I’m actually experiencing it.

I’ve always been someone who writes little notes, but I’ve never really written while on vacation or while being in a new place.

I did briefly write when I traveled to Israel, but there wasn’t much time to reflect because I was on a group trip with a very full schedule.

This time, I really want to take some time to sit outside, look at the beauty around me, and just write.

I don’t want to pressure myself to document every single moment, but I do want to keep memories and experiences fresh while they’re still in my mind.

I want to keep my Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria in check.

This one might be the hardest.

RSD has a way of making me question things that probably don’t need questioning.

It can convince me that someone is upset with me, that I’m an inconvenience, or that I’ve somehow done something wrong when there isn’t any evidence to support those thoughts.

Traveling with other people can sometimes bring those feelings up because there are so many unknowns.

I might overanalyze a conversation, worry that I’m being difficult, or assume something is wrong when everything is actually okay.

This month, I want to gently challenge those assumptions instead of automatically believing them.

I want to remind myself that my fears aren’t always facts, and that I don’t have to let them shape every interaction.

I deserve to enjoy this experience too.

RSD always shows up for me in social situations. There are times spent with friends where I’m just too stuck in my head, overthinking how I’m acting, how I’m responding, and questioning if everything I say is coming across the right way.

Any little sign of perceived judgment can automatically have me feeling angry, in tears, or frustrated—mostly with myself for reacting to something so small.

That’s the difficult part about RSD. It can be the smallest thing that triggers it. The tone of someone’s voice, their body language, their mannerisms. My brain can make me feel like it’s all directed at me.

I just want to try not to be easily offended by things that either did or didn’t actually happen.

I want to be present with my friends instead of stuck inside my own thoughts.

August isn’t about becoming a different version of myself before I leave.

It’s about trusting the person I already am.

It’s about preparing without panicking, planning without perfectionism, and remembering that some of the best parts of traveling can’t be scheduled.

More than anything, I hope this month teaches me to loosen my grip just enough to let the experience unfold.

I want to allow myself to experience this adventure as it happens—not constantly worrying about what could go wrong, but appreciating the memories I’m creating along the way.

What is one intention you want to carry with you this month—not a goal to accomplish, but a reminder for how you want to feel?

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”— Helen Keller

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