I spend a lot of time waiting. I imagine up these awesome experiences, and then wait for the perfect time to execute them.

Wait until my mom’s 60th birthday to throw her a surprise party.

Wait until Christmas to give the perfect gift that I thought up in July.

Wait until my honeymoon to take an epic trip.

But sometimes the perfect time never happens. In fact, the perfect time is never guaranteed. I’d even say the perfect time is the exception – and you can’t expect the exception.

So when a dear friend moves to Australia and you find yourself with extra vacation time and extra money in savings, that becomes the perfect time to take an epic trip – not an unguaranteed honeymoon.

I could keep waiting for something that might never happen, or I could reconfigure my epic trip fantasy and make it happen now.

So that’s what I did. I planned the trip – a big choosing butterflies moment for me…the eternal homebody.

And because I planned the trip, I got to have experiences that now, on the other side, I can’t imagine being left unexperienced.

I had the pinnacle airport arrival moment where I dropped my bags and hugged my friend for a really long time as we giggled and squealed.

Taking the ferry as we head home from the airport

I beat jet lag like a boss. Seriously…I travelled for nearly 24 hours with a 16-hour time change and jet lag did not get in my way going there or coming home. I win.

I saw things I had only dreamt up in my head, like the Sydney Opera House. I fell in love with this building during the 2000 Olympics and it was even more spectacular in person. I couldn’t look away…which you can tell from the 25+ pictures I took of the building from every angle.

From the ferry

From the Opera Bar

From the Sydney Harbour Bridge

From the Royal Botanical Gardens

From inside the Opera House

I sat in a park and read with this view in the background.

I watched a movie with this view in the background.

St. George Open Air Theatre

I sat on a beach and played in the giant waves of the Tasman Sea.

I got to be a solo tourist, since Nina had to work a few days I was there…and I enjoyed it. I picked my own itinerary for the day and could change it if I felt like it.

I navigated complicated public transit on my own, sometimes involving ferries, trains and buses all in one trip. (Note: “on my own” = “with the help of Google Maps”)

The Circular Quay train station

I walked from Bondi to Coogee Beach and witnessed beach views that I wouldn’t believe I actually saw in person if not for the dozens of photos I took.

I snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, explored the Daintree Rainforest, and walked along Cape Tribulation where there were multiple signs warning of crocodiles and deadly jellyfish.

Snorkelling selfie

If I had waited for the perfect time, none of these things would’ve happened. They would’ve been experiences left unexperienced. And that thought breaks heart.

What experiences might not happen if you keep waiting for the perfect time?