Having the FAQ also meant that I didn’t get impatient answering the same questions over and over. Now that I’m back from my trip, I’m working on a post-trip FAQ.

One misconception you’ll have to fight, especially if you’re older and have a profession, is that you’re taking on this trip as a consequence of failure in your professional or personal life. It’s very hard for some people to conceive that you could throw away a life if you were successful in it.

That was not the question I was asked the most, but once I started answering it (even when not asked), I saw attitudes change around me. I explained my reasons for traveling, and why it was much larger than my job. In some instances, it was very emotional: this is life-defining decisions, and you’ll likely end up saying things such as ‘I want to look back on my life on my deathbed and know that I lived life fully.’ I say let it out. Don’t be afraid to be intense on these things.

In my own situation, doing so inspired some people to pour their hearts out to me, even if travel wasn’t a value for them. I had surprising admissions from people I barely knew – such as my boss telling me he dreamt of throwing it all away so he could work in construction. It’s been an awe-inspiring experience, and it’s very humbling when you open your heart to people and see them inspired as a result.