The Night Before An Adventure

It has been said (don't ask me who or where or what or when, just roll with me here k?) that when one prepares for a trip - he/she/it experiences more joy in the preparation and the weeks leading up to the trip - than in the trip itself. The sweet spot is apparently two weeks prior to a trip. That's when the most amount of dopamines spread in our brain, making us happy travelers, even though we might be in the vicinity of our mundane lives, doing no more traveling than our daily commute to work or picking up cat food, or grocery runs in whole-foods, or whatever it is that we do in our everyday lives.

If you asked me how I felt two weeks ago - I wasn't particularly joyful. But that is because I am a fairly spontaneous traveler, and I don't take too much time making travel plans. And this time - I  have given no more than a week thought into my appending travel plan. And now here I am, spending the night before my travel adventure - stressing, packing, writing to-do lists to make sure I get everything I need for my trip. This time it is extra stressful since Covid-Era has placed travel restrictions and not to mention fear of 'what if?' has taken over any shred of dopamine spread in my brain. 

I wonder, will I ever chill-the-fuck-up before a trip and let the cards fall where they may? 
Will I allow mistakes to happen and yes maybe forget to pack this thing, or to do that thing or to talk to that person prior to the trip...? Does my perfectionism have to follow me so loyally even when I am supposed to relax and enjoy a little entry into the unknown!? 

May I face adventures with more WELCOME and a little less stress.
With more WONDER and a little less planning.
​With more SURPRISES and a little less expectations.

~A wish for myself, on the night before a road trip~