In 2024, I’m Daring Every Day: My Expat Resolution for Bold Living

Looking back at my expat journey and gazing into 2024, I’ve found myself repeating a simple but powerful promise: dare every day. This isn’t just another resolution that’ll fizzle out by February – it’s become my north star for making the most of this wild, wonderful international life I’ve chosen.

My Daily Daring Philosophy

You know how living abroad strips away your safety nets? Well, I’ve learned to see that vulnerability as my superpower. This year, I’m leaning into it harder than ever. Here’s where I’m pushing myself:

• Finally tackling the subjunctive tense in Spanish – because nothing says “I belong here” like nailing those tricky verb forms
• Ordering the mystery meat at the market (yes, the one that looks questionable but smells divine)
• Actually accepting those coffee invitations from my elderly neighbor instead of politely declining
• Ditching my tried-and-true expat haunts for the places where I’m the only foreigner in sight

Why 2024 Feels Different

Maybe it’s the Year of the Dragon energy, or maybe I’m just tired of playing it safe, but something’s shifted. Whether you’re fresh off the plane or a seasoned nomad like me, there’s this electric feeling that now’s the time to go all-in. I’ve been toying with the idea of another move (country number four, anyone?), and for the first time, the thought excites rather than exhausts me.

Small Daily Dares That Make a Big Impact

Here’s what I’ve learned after countless awkward encounters and small victories: bravery isn’t always about grand gestures. Sometimes it’s just showing up. My daily dares have become almost meditative:

• Stumbling through a joke in Portuguese at the bakery (they laugh with me now, not at me!)
• Taking the scenic route home, even when I’m tired and just want Netflix
• Showing up solo to that expat meetup where I know absolutely no one
• Finally trying those fermented fish balls my colleague swears by (spoiler: they’re an acquired taste)

The Renewal Mindset

Can we talk about expat fatigue for a second? After years abroad (seven for me, but who’s counting?), it’s so easy to slip into autopilot. You find your bubble, your routine, your go-to restaurants, and suddenly you’re living a smaller life than you did back home. Not this year. I’m shaking things up, rediscovering the wide-eyed wonder that made me book that one-way ticket in the first place.

Making Dreams Reality

Here’s the thing we expats sometimes forget: we’ve already done the impossible. We packed up our lives, said goodbye to everything familiar, and built new homes from scratch. If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is. So why do we sometimes play it safe once we’re settled? This year, I’m remembering that the same courage that got me here can transform my everyday life too.

So here’s to 2024 – to prosperity found in unexpected friendships, peace discovered in chaotic markets, and health nurtured by fresh adventures. May we all stumble into growth without overthinking it. Because honestly? The best parts of expat life happen when we stop planning and start living. One slightly terrifying, absolutely exhilarating day at a time.