When Your Family Doesn’t Support Your Travel Plans (Do It Anyway)
We’ve sold our car and taken on debt to do it.
Got to love negative equity (NOT!)
We’re prepping for long-term travel with our kids… and not one family member is on board.
No “we’re proud of you.”
No “how can we help?”
Just silence. Skepticism. Disbelief.
Or just an “OK”
And still, we’re going.
Last night, in a moment of “what are we even doing?” panic, I pulled a moon card. (Yes I’m in to that)
It read:
“Luck is on your side. Expect the best.”
And maybe that’s the only approval we’re going to get right now…but maybe it’s enough.
The Reactions No One Warns You About
You think telling your family you’re going to travel the world with your kids will be a big “wow” moment.
Sometimes, it’s a big “what??” moment instead.
Typical reactions:
“What about school?”
“Aren’t you worried about safety?”
“What if it doesn’t work out?”
Or worse… no response at all. (Like I know you’re holding something back)
Here’s what I’ve learned: people often react from fear or projection.
They’re not rejecting your dream, they’re afraid of what it reflects about their own life.
What to Do When No One Believes in Your Dream
Let’s be clear: it hurts when your people don’t get it. But that doesn’t mean your dream is wrong. It just means it’s yours.
Here’s what’s helped me:
Protect your energy. Not everyone deserves every update.
Share with discernment. You don’t owe people a pitch deck.
Build your travel circle. Start following, engaging, and messaging others who do get it — online, in email lists, or even just the comment section of a post like this.
But I’m Still Doing It
We’re choosing curiosity over comfort.
Growth over guarantees.
Even if it means some debt, some awkward convos, and a lot of solo belief-building.
That moon card said:
“Whatever happens next will be some sort of gift.”
And I believe that.
Rewriting the Script: From “What If It Fails?” to “What If It Works?”
When you’re deep in logistics, judgment, and late-night SEO tweaks… it’s easy to default to:
“This won’t work.”
“No one cares.”
“What if I screw it all up?”
But expecting the best isn’t toxic positivity. It’s mental alignment.
It’s creating a field for clarity, action, and connection — even when the outcome’s unknown.
Try This:
Say these aloud the next time doubt hits:
“What if this actually works?”
“What if someone finds my story and feels less alone?”
“What if the doors really do open in August?”
This mindset isn’t about being delusional.
It’s about giving your dream the mental space it needs to grow.
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A Real Moment (Because This Stuff Is Messy)
A few weeks ago, I sat on the floor, surrounded by packing cubes and budgeting spreadsheets, stressing over an offhand comment my dad made the week before:
“Well… I guess we’ll see how long that lasts.”
That was it. No hate. No yelling. Just that.
But when you’re building something tender and terrifying, even a passive remark can feel like a wrecking ball. Like I say it got me momentarily stressed, done with this part of my family who seem so unsupportive
And then I remembered: this is exactly why we’re going.
Not to prove them wrong but to prove to ourselves that we’re allowed to live differently.
How to Stay Grounded When No One Gets It
If you’re feeling raw and isolated right now, here’s a short list I keep in my notes app for the hard days:
Revisit your why, read your journal, your goals, the reason you started
Message one travel family you admire (even if they’re “bigger”)
Mute or limit conversations with the loudest doubters
Go for a walk without a podcast, let your mind process without noise
Speak your “what if it works?” thoughts out loud
It sounds simple, but when your emotional fuel is running low, these small resets matter.
Final Words
This moment — the awkward middle where people doubt you, is a chapter in almost every long-term travel story.
That’s why we talk about it.
It’s not just about flights and visas and backpacks.
It’s about identity, family, mindset, and freedom.
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