It was a question brought to me just a few short months ago that changed my life’s course. That question being, “When was the last time you did something for the first time?”
I’ll hold while you think of your answer…
After pondering (for what seemed like forever) it became pretty apparent that it had been longer than it should have. I’ve always prided myself on having a wanderlust outlook on life and eagerness to explore, but the human nature of creating a daily routine had put me in a rut, an adventure rut, that I needed to get out of.

The transition to fully remote: COMMUNICATION IS KEY
The real test was seeing how my transition would go from being a full-time in-office employee to one working full-time offsite. It was a unique dynamic with the group of remotes I travel with coming from a wide range of careers and stemming different parts of the world. It is refreshing to see such passion for our individual/unique professions. It was inspiring to step into our co-working space and witness all the magic happening around me. Communication between myself and the team at mg has worked exceptionally well (knock on wood). Technology is steadily progressing and advancing with video chatting, messaging and email so that opportunities like this (traveling the world while working remotely) are made possible. It is important to be accessible and available in today’s ever-changing world of digital progression.

Take Aways: Split, Croatia
The first month has flown by (as I presumed it would). It was jammed packed with action. Remote Year made it such a priority to make sure we get the most out of our time in Split. Creating opportunities to immerse us in the culture such as trips to Old Town where the oldest church in the world stands, bike rides to the top of Marjan Hill, compelling speeches from locals, or tours around a few of the 1,000+ islands just off the coast of Split. THE LIST GOES ON. I can’t even count how many times I’ve said: “This is the first time I                  .” The European culture is so unique and timeless. Being from the Midwest with very little travel experience prior to embarking on this journey I am learning so much about the differences in lifestyle. One very important take away I received in Split was to slow down and smell the roses. The U.S. society’s day to day deadlines and GO GO GO mentality can really take away from the moments that matter. It was nice to witness (and be a part of) a community that was relaxed in nature and refreshing to sit back and reflect on just how great this journey called life really is.

A new location FULL of more FIRSTS
The month of November our group has moved on to Prague, Czech Republic! Already I see so much potential to gain inspiration from my surroundings both professionally and personally. A city rich in its architectural and cultural history. I can’t wait for a whole new list of firsts to be tackled and what elements spark my creativity!

So again, I ask you “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” Break out of that comfort zone and pursue the unknown. There’s no telling what your story might become!

Enjoy some photos I took around the city of Split for the first 35 days!