My journey beyond comfort and why it's worth it
In a world where everyone likes sharing the things they do, there’s always some things that make you go “wow...I could never” or “damn, that’s so cool, but I would never”. I used to live in the shadow of that as well, but honestly, life is so much more fun when you just do the things you want to. If you’re like me and you’re motivated by others fucking around and finding out first, here are my two cents! Oh, and before I forget- I’m Iarina, a self-proclaimed ambivert who is one third of Never Would I Ever, your go-to source of inspiration for stepping out of your comfort zone. You might know us from this silly reel, or from this amazing first article about introverts, extroverts and ambiverts (where you can also see me, yippee!). But enough about that – Let's dive in!
Overcoming my fear of the unknown
*Cue Elsa singing Into The Unknown*
Much like Elsa, my brain was also screaming at me to get out of bed and into the unknown. And by that, I mean that it was telling me to go out and explore the things this country has to offer, as well as abuse the cheap Flixbus tickets to other countries. This is how I ended up overcoming my fear (big word, but you get it) of travelling alone to cities I'm not familiar with. So far, with techniques worthy of the Broke Student Guide (unofficially endorsed by every budget traveller ever), I managed to see most of the Netherlands (I’ve crossed off most big cities, only few escaped my wrath). This gave me the opportunity to experience the Dutch culture to its fullest, seeing both sides of the country, the quaint rural villages and the history-filled modern cities. But as I was traveling, I also discovered something else.
Friends in unexpected places
Through these constant trips I learned that beauty is not only in the eye of the traveller, but also in the friendships made along the way. Shout out to my dear friends from Nijmegen, who were the first to make me come out of my shell and sing Wrecking Ball in front of a club full of people! First of all, I’d like to thank Beyonce for them and that unbelievably fun night, and secondly – the most important thing really is the friends we make along the way. One piece of advice from one (currently recovered) raging introvert to another is to allow people to take you out of your shell, you really won’t believe what you can do with the right company.
Moving on before I get too sappy, traveling alone might have been my first big step made after moving to the Netherlands, but moving my entire life to a new country was an even bigger leap.
Forging my own path
Now, this one will sound very medieval-fantasy-forge-thy-own-destiny but hear me out. Gathering all your things and moving everything to the other side of the continent is no easy feat, physically or mentally. Even though my first year as an international student had its ups and, well…something like an abyss, I managed to come out of it a completely different person. After fighting off the seven evil Dutch seasons, all rainy and cold and happening in one day, and after passing the treacherous second year of studying in the Netherlands, I can now confidently say that my fate is sealed: I am a fully functional and (mostly) independent adult who can responsibly make decisions and partake in society, yay! That means I get to do taxes, cook three meals a day, and complain about my back hurting. Fun!
Dealing with old age at 20
I might be kidding with most things, but one thing is true: coming to the Netherlands and learning how to take care of myself is something I never thought I would do, but here I am, three years in and one path forged later, eternally grateful for the opportunity to take my life in my own hands from such a young age. Oh, and by the way, here’s a picture of the big scary dragon of this story (me last year for Halloween). This is to say that sometimes we are the ’monsters’ of our own story, sabotaging ourselves and holding ourselves back from becoming something greater. One incredibly important thing to note is that great doesn’t have to mean something out of this world, but instead it can be a small thing that you wanted to do for so long but never had the courage to try. So go forth, my dear companion, and try whatever your heart desires! (responsibly though)
To finish off this *great* motivational article, I’d like to say this: It’s never too late to try out the things you’re scared of. No matter where life takes you, there’s a reason for it, even if it’s just for you to eat that stroopwafel or to drink that biertje, so you should embrace it and take everything as it is. There is good in everything and in everyone, and there is definitely room for growth and overcoming fears. <3
If you want to see or read more from us, you can find Never Would I Ever on Instagram for all things related to our silly adventures, and on the HUB to read all our amazing articles, you can check out our previous article here.
