I was born to the name Johanna, middle name Maze. I have always gone by Hanna. I think perhaps it suits me better. However, the verdict is still out. I grew up in little old Rhode Island. I have always found Rhode Island a great fit and never felt the sudden urge to leave. So it is here, in this little ocean state that I have called home for the last twenty five years. Although, after giving this statement a second more of consideration, I wonder if it wasn’t that I never felt the urge to leave but rather was more of the fact that change has always been a scary thought for me. I have always been really, really good at staying in things that are comfortable even if they are no longer working. At any rate, at this point in my journey this is where I stand.

I wake everyday with an overwhelming need for something more. Now this is not to say that I am not happy it’s rather more of a feeling that is waiting patiently somewhere in the background.

I should have started by explaining that I’ve always been a complex human being, perhaps, even difficult. I have often found in my life that when most people get this feeling they attempt to use some temporary distraction to try to fill this void, but nothing materialistic is going to fill this. If it had hell it would have been filled a long time ago. In saying this I mean that I’ve gone down that road before and it still leaves this overwhelming longing for something more. (I promise the message I am trying to get across is a positive one but I can’t do so without adding the next few sentences, bear with me through the negativity.)

What it ultimately comes down to is that I am sick of routines, of doing the same thing day in and day out. I am sick of working hard with little to no reward. I am sick of the pattern of feelings that are forever constantly circling around in my head. I am sick of the same scenery; the same negative people that crowd the streets of this town. It feels as though every time I try to walk away from them I find myself surrounded by three more. Granted, I am fully capable of understanding that I am solely responsible for the people I have chosen to surround myself with. There are many things in this place, in this state, in this town, on this street, that I am completely head over heels in love with, but I must rely on faith that they will be there when this need is filled, when this journey is over.

With that being said, the need I feel is to get out, to spread my wings, to venture to new heights, to stumble upon new experiences, to discover new places, new cultures, and a new meaning to life. I think about all the life out there that I am so ignorant too. What it ultimately comes down to is that,

I wish to travel. I wish to explore. I wish to learn.

I long for culture, for education, for experience but most of all, I wish to restore my faith in humanity. My faith in myself. I long for life and all the wonder and beauty it holds.

With this being said, I have decided to quote Nike on this one and “just do it.” I will pack my bags in August and set out on a journey through Tibet & India and wherever else my journey leads me to. I wake now and just thinking about it, brings a new, restored passion to my soul. I will document every step of my journey through my photography, art and writing. I have no set plans, no set destinations, just a backpack, myself, a glass half empty and whole lot of hope.

I am going to spend the next few months leading up to my trip making a list of things I hope to do. The first item on the list is to spend a week or two among Buddhist monks, I have always such a passion when it comes to Buddhism and all its beautiful teachings and have been a student for five years now. But I suppose that is a topic for another post, on another day.

I wrote the following quote a long time ago and now it’s time to follow it.

“You must always purse your passion wherever it happens to take you. You must always follow it with a peaceful mind, an open heart, and a whole lot of faith. When you do you’ll find yourself suddenly aligned with the universe, it is in this space that people are capable of the most beautiful miracles. So ask yourself this, what is stopping you from following your passion? What is stopping you from creating your very own miracle?”

I also should mention here that I wouldn’t have the freedom to do any of this without some of the best people in the world. I owe this whole idea to my loving father and mother, for they are the ones who planted this idea as a seed in my head and also to Kayla & Jon for always being there to support me in all the loving ways that they do. If anyone has any travel tips be sure to let me know! As always, thanks for reading!

-Johanna M. Dunn

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