I’m writing this newsletter 40,000 feet in the air, somewhere above the Amazon rainforest.
In 5 hours, this plane will land in Buenos Aires — the capital city I’ll be living in for the next 4 months of my life. Possibly longer.
I’ve been looking forward to this day for months now, so the fact that I’ll be in Argentina later this afternoon has me stoked beyond belief.
However, I’d be flat-out lying if I said I wasn’t also extremely terrified.
Why? Well, a few reasons…
Mi español needs a LOT of work
I’m as gringo as they come (blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin)
I don’t know a single person in the entire country of Argentina
I’ll be living on my own in a country I’ve never been to an entire hemisphere away
So to say there are many unknowns would be an understatement.
It’s quite a tall order for a 22-year-old like myself, but to be honest — I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Because here’s the sad truth:
Most people associate the unknown with negativity. They view it with doubt, skepticism, and imagine all the things that could go wrong.
And unfortunately, it’s these exact negative thoughts that prevent people from ever taking the risk in the first place.
But I encourage you to reframe your perspective.
Instead of thinking about the potential downsides, ask yourself: “What if everything goes right?”
For my situation, the only thing I actually do know about my trip is that I’ll be working on my Twitter business and taking classes at a local university.
Besides that, I have absolutely no idea what awaits me in Argentina.
But guess what?
I also had no idea what awaited me when I decided to take a gap year after high school to travel abroad.
I also had no idea what awaited me when I decided to start writing and building a personal brand on Twitter.
Both of these leaps of faith ended up being the most rewarding and colorful experiences of my life.
So while I’m scared as hell right now, I also have a peaceful confidence deep within me that just intuitively knows things will turn out amazing.
If my past history of risk-taking provides any clues, I know I’ll:
Finally learn Spanish
Tap into the rhythm of Argentine culture
Meet new friends and develop incredible relationships
Eventually start to feel at home in Buenos Aires
So the next time you get that churning feeling in your gut when you think of the “dark and scary” unknown, take note of your natural aversion toward it.
Why do you feel this way?
Have you ever considered the more likely scenario – that everything goes better than you expected?
Remember: life is supposed to be an adventure, not some predetermined path set for you by society designed to maximize comfort and “safety.”
By planning your life out too much, you effectively eliminate life’s greatest feature – its ability to surprise you in wonderful and serendipitous ways.
Your comfort zone is the enemy, and fear is your compass.
Please, lean into the unknown. Your older self will thank you.
“It is fatal to know too much at the outcome: boredom comes as quickly to the traveler who knows his route as to the novelist who is overcertain of his plot.”
Chao,
Matt Mic
Edit: I already befriended a local on my flight. He literally drove me straight from the airport to go swim on his rooftop, eat lunch at a beautiful café, and dance at a techno club all through the night. Quite the first impression, Argentina. Let’s see what else you’ve got in store…