We Sold Everything to Travel the World—Here’s What It Taught Us About Life

Growing up in North America, we were taught there was a path to follow: go to school, get good grades, land a stable job, save, get married, buy a house, have kids, and spend the rest of your life taking care of them.

So we strived for that path. We worked our 9-to-5s, chased career success, and eventually opened our own physiotherapy clinic. We poured our hearts into it, and the business thrived.

On paper, we had everything: a comfortable life, a strong marriage, a successful career. But still, we found ourselves asking — is this really it? We had done everything “right,” yet something was missing.

So one day, we stopped asking and decided to find out. We sold everything, left it all behind, and set off in search of a life that actually felt like ours. Now, after more than a year and a half of traveling the world, shaped by the cultures we’ve experienced and the people we’ve met, these are our realizations about what truly matters in life.

Where we come from, success was always defined the same way: a big house with a white picket fence, a fancy car in the driveway, and a bank account that keeps on growing. We grew up believing that the more money you had — and the more shiny things you could buy — the happier and more fulfilled you’d be.

So, we followed that path. We built our careers, opened a private physiotherapy clinic from scratch, and grew it into a thriving business with a team of nine amazing therapists. As the income increased, we upgraded to a nicer car, rented a beautiful condo, and started saving more.

But eventually, we found ourselves asking: Okay, we have all these things… now what?

Watching the numbers rise in our bank account no longer brought the joy it once did. We had everything we were taught would make us feel fulfilled: a successful career, our own business, married, with a nice car, and a stable bank account — and yet, something felt missing. So we made a drastic decision: we let it all go and decided to chase what truly made us feel alive — travel.

Now, over a year and a half later, having let go of all the status symbols and living on a fraction of our old income, we’ve never felt more alive. We’ve hiked to Everest Base Camp, danced salsa in Colombia, learned Spanish, tracked wild lions and a pride of elephants on a self-drive safari through Namibia, and made unforgettable friendships all over the world. Our life finally feels full, not because of what we own, but because of what we’ve lived.

Because no matter what society tells you, happiness doesn’t come from dollars. It comes from new experiences, deep connections, and choosing a life that actually feels like yours. So stop chasing that so-called “dream” of more money — because the truth is, it’ll never feel like enough.

Instead, invest your time in experiences that truly enrich your life — whether it’s traveling to a new country, laughing with friends over dinner, finally taking that dance class, or simply doing something that makes you feel alive. That’s where life gets rich.

I’ll be honest: selling our business and walking away from a stable 9-to-5 job was terrifying. We grew up being told that this kind of job was the definition of success. It was what you had to do to get ahead in life. But despite the fear, we took a leap of faith… and came to a surprising realization:

The 9-to-5 grind is a cage we built ourselves.

Don’t get me wrong — hard work and a steady income matter. You need to pay the bills, buy groceries, and keep a roof over your head. But the idea that you must work five days a week, 40 hours a week, just to survive? That’s a myth — and a limiting one.

Before we sold our clinic, we tried a small experiment: we cut back to working just three days a week to give ourselves time to plan our next steps. Within weeks, we noticed something big — we were happier. We had time to do the things we’d always put off. We cooked, exercised, saw friends, ran errands without stress, and still made enough to support our needs. Our life didn’t fall apart. In fact, it started to feel like ours.

Then, while traveling through different countries, we started to see this idea play out everywhere. One moment that stuck with us was when we traveled through Sicily. We walked into a restaurant around 2 p.m., only to be told by the owner that they were closed for the day — they’d made enough and were off to enjoy the weather.

At first, we were shocked. In North America, you never turn down a paying customer. But then it hit us: they were choosing fulfillment over endless hustle. They had had enough, and that was enough. We saw the same thing again while road tripping through Greece: businesses closing early, people prioritizing slow lunches and family time over squeezing in more profit.

And that’s when it really sank in:

The grind isn’t mandatory — it’s just the script we were taught to follow… and never thought to question.

While in Brazil, we shared our story with a local family, about how we sold everything and now travel the world with just two backpacks. Their reaction? Total disbelief: “Wait… that’s all you own?”

And yep — that’s it. Just two backpacks, and we’ve never felt freer.

Back in North America, life was a constant loop of buying the next shiny thing — the latest car, a bigger TV, a trendier outfit, the new couch, even though we already had a couch. But now that we’ve let it all go, we realize something surprising: not once have we missed any of it. Not once have we looked back and thought, “I wish I still had that purse or that gadget.” The joy from material things fades fast. It lasts a few days, maybe weeks, while it’s still new.

But the joy from experiences? That sticks with you forever. Soaking in a private onsen overlooking Mount Fuji during our road trip through small coastal Ryokan towns in Japan? That memory will forever bring smiles to our faces.

There are even moments from trips we took over a decade ago that still flood us with happiness. That’s something a couch can never do.

You’ve probably heard the saying: “Spend on experiences, not things.” After 1.5 years of living it — we can tell you, it’s absolutely true. Happiness doesn’t come from what you own. It comes from what you live.

Two years ago, we had everything we were told we wanted — a successful business, a car, and a comfortable condo. But we started to realize that our comfortable life had quietly turned into complacency. We were so settled that we stopped trying new things. That spark? It was fading.

Sound familiar? Perhaps you have a friend who skips every social plan, avoids joining dance or fitness classes, and treats anything after 9 pm like it’s midnight. That was us. Stuck in a cozy little bubble.

But this past year? We’ve lived almost entirely outside our comfort zone. We’ve stumbled through foreign languages, hiked brutal multi-day treks, danced in front of strangers, and had conversations we never thought we’d be brave enough to start.

And something incredible happened: we grew. In confidence, in courage, in curiosity…

Growth doesn’t come from routines or comfort. It comes from challenging yourself. And it will not only make you a more complete person, but also immeasurably happier.

To close off, here’s one final lesson that feels more important now than ever: the real magic of life is in human connection. And in today’s world, it’s something we’re losing.

Back home, life had become very isolating. Everyone was busy, glued to their routines (or their phones), and spontaneous meetups felt rare. In the words of Esther Perel, society is suffering from “social atrophy.”

But over the past year, we’ve reawakened that spark. We’ve met strangers from every corner of the world, not through plans or apps, but through genuine, unexpected moments.

Like two Indian-British girls we met on a rooftop in Arequipa, simply because we offered to take their photo. That small gesture led to a lovely three-hour conversation about life, culture, and dreams, without even once taking out our cellphones.

It reminded us of something powerful: human connection is important, make time for it. Put down the phone, say yes to the lunch date, call up your friend, and let yourself be surprised by the amazing new connections you make.

We stepped away from the life we were told we should want and came out with a deeper understanding of ourselves and what really matters.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: fulfillment doesn’t come from ticking society’s boxes. It comes from meaningful experiences, personal growth, connection, and choosing to live intentionally rather than on autopilot.

You don’t have to sell everything and travel the world. But you do owe it to yourself to question the script and write your own.