2 . I wanted to be a journalist. But my parents _______ that math makes money, so off to engineering school I went. In my post-university young-adult life, I’ve managed to become_______ successful. As a female _______, I worked for a big oil company and owned a home. My life was_______ in front of me, and I didn’t like what I saw.

So, I did what any respectable 24-year-old would do and left my _______ behind. I said goodbye to my job and _______ my suitcase. I _______ myself solo into the world with the grace and beauty of a baby deer taking its first steps with skateboards under its feet.

I _______ my knees mountain biking through the red rocks of Utah. I partied at a spring bath party in Budapest. I spent four days _______ through Yellowstone with 50 pounds on my back. I took a ________along the Danube river with someone from the hostel. They were just small everyday ________ that happened to happen abroad, leading me to realize that the true value of my flight tickets were not the ________ but rather becoming a( n) ________ participant in my own life.

I now spend less time online shopping and more time ________ alone on the floor listening to an album cover - to - cover. I ask my friends how they’re doing; sometimes, I ________ them with flowers to see them smile. I tell everyone to have a good day.

Maybe I’ll continue to be ________ for the next five years and touch down in dozens more countries. Maybe I’ll stay grounded in my home city, but the idea no longer ________ me. ________ with new wisdom earned in a year of travel, I know with complete ________ that there’s adventure hiding in any aspect of my life—as long as I’m ________ enough to look for it.