Hey! I’m Denise, the ever anxious and incredibly impulsive writer behind this travel blog. While I am often incapacitated by introversion, I’ll do almost anything for a good story. And it’s that perfect mix of crippling anxiety, impulsive decision making and awkward introversion that has landed me in the many adventures that I’ll share with you here on Northern Identity.
But I’ll let you in on a little secret: I have no idea what I’m doing!
I’ve lived in 3 different countries. I’ve been oceans away from my parents since I was 18. Yet somehow I’m still utterly clueless and impossibly sheltered. Yup, over 10 years of relative independence and I still have no idea what I’m doing.
But I’m getting off on a tangent here…
Let’s find our own damn adventure
My mission is simple yet incredibly ambitious: to inspire others to find their own adventure.
I am an introvert dealing with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), and for many miserable years I had let my introversion and anxiety control my decisions. (Wow, that got real real quick!)
I’ve missed out on many experiences and turned down many opportunities, only to regret it and endlessly wonder what if I went for it? I’ve always let my anxiety hold me back. Lately, however, I realize more and more that all the catastrophizing and all the worst-case scenarios I’ve ever imagined weren’t as bad as not living the life I want. Watching life pass me by was a much bigger threat than any fear or worry I have ever had.
This is why I started writing this blog. I’ve always known I wanted to live an adventurous and fulfilling life. But I’ve always let my fears and worried get in my way. So I started Northern Identity to push myself. I wanted to give myself a reason to say yes to more adventures. And yes, I wanted to give myself more reasons to force myself out of bed and out that door!
In the process, I want to inspire others to find their own adventure. I strongly believe that if I can do it, then so can pretty much everyone else. We all have our own journey. And we all have some sort of disadvantage or disability that may hold us back. But none of those should define or dictate how we live our lives.
What to Expect
Northern Identity is an attempt to live a life made through meaningful connections and an unwavering sense of adventure. In stark contrast to today’s fast paced, cluttered and checklist-ridden world, I wanted to willfully slow down and savour every moment.
Northern Identity is a collection of stories and guides about different places and faces as I travel across the land (searching far and wide). Featuring crafts, delicacies & industries from around the globe and attempting to understand diverse cultures, customs & traditions.
I think stories are a powerful tool to understanding not only ourselves, but also the world around us. I hope these humble stories will help nudge you to find your adventure too.
Why Read Northern Identity
No, this is not the most thrill-seeking adventure blog ever written. No, I haven’t been to every continent on the planet (not yet anyway). And no, I am not the most experienced traveller out there. But I think these are precisely the reasons why you should read Northern Identity.
Because I want you to realize that if I can get out of bed and start living a full and meaningful life, then so can you!
So, what’s your story?
