When the days are getting closer to a one year trip to every country in the world, what should you do, how should you prepare and, even better, would someone please tell me, what the heck should you pack? Full of anxious energy, fears and excitement, my last day of normal life is here.

My thoughts are that the hardest part of this journey will be missing those things that I will leave behind. In order to prepare for this epic trip, I have been spending as much quality time with the people and the things around me that I will miss the most as well as enjoying this beautiful city that I live in.

Today was rather weird actually. As I set out through Munich to gather the last things I could think of, I found myself marveling at the city with new eyes. These buildings that I’ve been around for two years somehow felt fresher and more alive, as if I’m catching all of the details of this place that I know I will miss.

After I was sure that I hadn’t forgotten any of the shopping that I needed to do, I made my way down to the Isar River to film my first confessional video for this trip. Trying to grasp my feelings about this journey was like trying to catch sand in a net. As I stood at the edge of the river, filming alone with my tripod, several people on the distant bridge started waving hello and yelling to me. Something about this made me happy and I waved back and yelled with enthusiasm. Suddenly, standing there in front of the camera, waving at the people on the bridge, I realized, “Hey, this is my job!” It begins. My face broke into a smile that probably reached my ears. If we are lucky, we spend our lives trying to find the freedom to do the things we love to do, and preferably make money at the same time. If we are unlucky, we forget our dreams altogether. In that moment, I realized how privileged, how super lucky I am to have one year to do all the things I love… as a job! It just felt really good, really refreshing, being out there with my camera, working, even for something as small as a confessional.

Now it’s late and I am at home. Sitting here writing, it’s hard not to realize that this is the last night I’ll be here in over a year. I just came back from a nice long walk with my one-year-old Beagle, Henry. We actually only call him Henry when we want him to do something though. His name usually varies from Hen-Shiz, Shizzy, Shiz Nizzle, Mr. Flop Flop, Mr. Floppy Ears or just, The Furry One. Most times, I just call him Shiz. He even answers to all of those names.

When we went outside, I abandoned the headphones and iPod I usually bring with me. On this walk, I had so much flying through my head that it was noisy enough and I didn’t need any music. How can you not be contemplative at a time like this? Thinking about everything you’re supposed to pack. Daydreaming about the laughter and excitement you will share in the days, months and year to come. All of these ideas and thoughts were zooming around my head, crashing into each other.

After a while, Henry grabbed a piece of trash off of the ground and took off running. He does this thing I love where after he picks up a piece of trash, he starts throwing it to himself while trying to run at the same time so that you chase him. His long floppy ears bounce all over the place and it’s such a cool sight. Tonight, I couldn’t help but to run after the little guy full force. Looking down at the little dude, waggy tailed and floppy eared, remembering all the fun we’ve had, it just made me smile.

That’s when I realized that everything was going to be OK. All the questions, worry and concerns were wiped away with a simple one-minute sprint and replaced with a smile. There are going to be really hard times on this journey. I know, however, that around every corner there is something simple that will make me smile for days. What’s even better is that we will get to see the little things that make people smile all over the world. Hopefully, you’ll show us, or tell us, what little things make you smile.

Well, there are only hours left until I need to be ready to leave and I haven’t put a single thing in my pack yet. I’m off. I feel like a kid again, heading off to adventure!