Currently...

After four years of living out of a bag and travelling the world, I unpacked just over a year ago and have started my own Video Consulting business http://LLmedia.co" rel="nofollow">LLmedia.

I have combined my fifteen years of TV production experience with my online and social media skills and am helping small businesses & entrepreneurs learn how to produce videos for the web and their business. So many nowadays can shoot their own videos and I am here to help make them better. I have written an http://www.llmedia.co/buy-ebook/" rel="nofollow">eBook chock full of tips and advice for those new to video.

I have been taking on some speaking engagements - some encouraging others to travel (I host the Chicago portion of the http://meetplango.com/" rel="nofollow">Meet Plan Go movement), as well as speaking about Video at conferences like the World Travel Market in London.

I also do freelance writing and photography.

Before I escaped...

Before my trip, I was a television writer/producer/editor with more than fifteen years of experience. For nearly ten years, I produced a variety of broadcast specials, including an award-winning weekly lifestyle, travel, and entertainment magazine show on ABC Chicago. 

During my ten years at ABC I was a supervising producer overseeing the production of several shows. I also wrote, field-produced, and edited various specials including: entertainment, travel (including international shoots), sports, news, children’s, health, and public affairs.

I was responsible for nearly every part of production: research, hiring & supervising ENG crews/gear, travel schedules, writing, interviewing, producing, editing, supervising graphics, voice over sessions, etc.

I also taught a TV production class for six years at Columbia College Chicago. Before ABC, I was a promotions producer and a director/technical director.  

My moment of truth...

For years, I'd clipped and saved articles about travelling the world or living abroad. I devoured inspirational travel narratives, and dreamed of doing it myself. Every year, I made a goal to go on one big trip. The idea didn't really ever crystallize until the year I left.

My cat of 11 years had died, I ended a relationship, and while I had a great job as a TV producer, I had been growing bored with it. I realized... that was it. I was free and it was now or never.

As soon as I reached that tipping point... it was like a ball rolling down hill picking up speed. Once I realized I COULD do it... then I knew I WOULD do it. The rest was easy.

Planning for it...

I had worked for 10+ years and had saved a good bit of money. For more money, I also sold my car and my condo.

I charted the course I would take: following warm weather and starting in Central and South America and then heading west to Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe.

I researched airline tickets and bought the first few. I looked into ideas of different 'things' I could do in different places - i.e. work, volunteer, bike tours, etc.

I got health insurance. I sold a lot of my belongings on Craigslist. I secured travel insurance. I was vaccinated. I got ONE guidebook for Costa Rica, my first stop.

I quit my job in July. And I left in October!

The worst and best bits...

Seeing how this has been the BEST thing I have ever done in life... I can't say there is any 'worst' thing.

That being said, not every moment was as joyous as photos show. There, of course, were uncertain times, down times, confused times.

But the 'highs' far out-weighed the lows and I learned how to adjust for that and how to be patient and allow for all feelings - loneliness, extreme joy, fear, utter excitement, anxiety, love, boredom, contentment - all of it.

I think that's what travel is - it can heighten and make you feel every emotion in a short time period. That's why it's so addictive - not much else in life makes me feel the same rush and heightened state as travel.

Best advice...

Just do it! If you are already planning a trip then good for you! Because the hardest part is over-deciding to do it and figuring out how to make it work. If you have the opportunity and the freedom to just go and grab the chance now when you can… don’t put if off for tomorrow, because something will always come up to get in your way.

And just soak in the fact that you are doing something so many others 'dream' of but never really have the balls to do!!!!

I think there is no better ‘real life’ education than seeing the world and meeting its people first-hand. I remember learning in school about Vietnam or the old Kingdom of Siam and having no clue where these places were and nothing to really allow me to ‘connect’ to them. But now, being able to visit them myself just makes the world smaller and allows me to embrace our differences, but at the same time learn how very much we are all alike.

Useful resources and information...

Many inspirational books like:

• http://www.amazon.com/Trip-Beach-Living-Island-Caribbean/dp/060980748X" rel="nofollow">A Trip to the Beach by The Blanchards
• http://www.amazon.com/Honeymoon-My-Brother-Franz-Wisner/dp/0312340842/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320077925&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner
• http://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Off-Round---World/dp/1885211651/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320077959&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">One Year Off by David Cohen

SO many websites like:

• http://www.couchsurfing.org/" rel="nofollow">Couchsurfing.com
• http://www.airbnb.com/" rel="nofollow">Airbnb.com
• http://www.Facebook.com" rel="nofollow">Facebook
• http://www.lonelyplanet.com/" rel="nofollow">Lonely Planet

I have more resources http://www.llworldtour.com/resources/" rel="nofollow">here on my site.