Feeling Lost? What if the World Held Your Next Step?
You’re here because something inside you is restless. You’ve scrolled through endless travel photos, dreamt of distant lands, but then reality hits: no money, no clear path, just that gnawing question…
what am I supposed to do with my life?
Maybe you’re drowning in the overwhelming pressure to pick a career, to “settle down,” while a deeper part of you craves something more, something unknown. That existential dread? Yeah, I’ve been there. The feeling that everyone else has it figured out, and you’re just… drifting.
What Barefoot Surfer Can do for You
What if I told you that the escape you crave, the clarity you seek, and the adventure that feels impossible right now are all within reach? Not as a fantasy, but as a tangible, achievable journey.
I’m William, and I used to be exactly where you are: a broke college student, staring down a corporate path I dreaded, yet feeling trapped. Then, the world flipped, and I seized an opportunity to trade textbooks for real-world lessons.
I went from serving drinks on a beach to backpacking across continents, transforming a three-month escape into an eight-month odyssey through Europe and Southeast Asia that completely rerouted my life, ultimately landing me here, in Japan.
Travel to find Purpose
This isn’t just a travel blog; it’s a blueprint. Think of it as a “choose your own adventure” book for your life, with each page guiding you, step by practical step. We’re not just packing a 40-liter backpack; we’re preparing your mind to see possibilities you never imagined.
With the growth of AI, I do believe that you will find information quicker asking ChatGPT or Gemini on “what to do in Bangkok?”. But this blog will prepare you on what to think while in Bangkok, to prepare yourself for what comes next. And It’s not ladyboys.
Travel Can be done Cheap
Forget the excuses you’ve heard, or even told yourself: “It’s too expensive.” “It’s too risky.” “I don’t have enough saved.” What if those aren’t roadblocks, but just unturned stones?
Because here’s the truth: if you feel like you have nothing to lose, you have everything to gain. Every “failure” on this path is just another lesson learned, another story to tell.
When you’re on your deathbed, what stories will you have?
Are you ready to stop scrolling and start stepping? Are you ready to trade that feeling of being lost for the thrill of discovering your own compass?
This isn’t just a travel blog.
This is a step-by-step manual for building a life worth waking up to — even if you’re broke and unsure where to begin.
I’ll show you:
- What job to take right now to save money fast
- What gear to pack (and what’s a waste of cash)
- Where to go and why
- How to travel on the tightest budget
- How to work out, journal, think, and grow while you move
- What to do when it’s all over, and how travel rewires your mind forever
You don’t need a trust fund. You need a mindset shift.
And if you’ve read this far, I know you’re already searching for that shift.
You’re not behind. You’re just at the beginning.
Author
William @ Barefoot Surfer
I’m William, the writer behind Barefoot Surfer: a blog about honest, no-BS backpacking through Japan and Southeast Asia. I left behind the typical career path to backpack for 8 months. Currently living in Toyama, Japan. I've traveled on $500 a month. From hitchhiking across islands to sleeping in train stations, I share practical tips and personal stories for travelers who value freedom over comfort and truth over fluff.