Sonia Marsh - Gutsy Living

Life's too short to play it safe

“My Gutsy Story” by Doug Edwards

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Travel… Embrace It Enthusiastically At Any Age

Medical professionals tell us that our most impressionable learning years are between the ages of one and three years.  It is in that early period of our lives that we absorb experiences and teachings without fear, or of any thought or contradiction. We accept with great enthusiasm things that we have been shown or taught.

The reason we don’t show any fear, or question, is of course, we don’t have any life experience at that early age to compare and question. Our young brain simply cannot “work it out”. It has nothing stored… it has no life experience.

So what goes wrong…where does the enthusiasm go?  Nothing goes “wrong”.   We just “grow up”.  We all have personalities that start developing in our infant years and continue through to the adult stages of our lives.

A slow start.  A true story. I was born into a poor working class environment in a town close to London, England.  At the age of two, due to my mother becoming ill and unable to care for me, I was put into the care of a “Legal Guardian”, a form of adoption.  I can remember the day I was “handed over” as if it were yesterday.  At two I had no real idea of what was going on, except to say, a lot of new faces appeared and people paid me attention. It was some years later that I met my mother and father again, but never lived with them.

Things didn’t start falling into place until a few years later when I realized that my situation was different, my background was different.  I would hear comments such as “it’s a pity, he’s such a nice boy’” and “what will become of him.”

Doug Edwards at eleven

At the age of eleven, I decided that I was not going to stay in England.  As loving and caring as my new family was, my young gut feeling told me I needed to make a change.  Yes, at eleven, I already didn’t like what was becoming my life.

I began looking at world maps and wondered what it would be like to visit Asia, Africa, South America.  At school, my favourite class was geography and as luck would have it, an Australian geography teacher from Brisbane took up a post at my school. Little did I know… that a teacher with his black and white home-made movies which he’d brought with him from Oz, showing the fantastic scale and lifestyle of his country, laid the foundation of my dream to live in Australia.  Even though I wasn’t happy, my enthusiasm to change my situation and see the world never wavered.  At age fifteen I knew I wanted to live in Australia and by age twenty-two, here I was.

So what is the point of my life story; the point is that nothing was ever achieved without enthusiasm and determination.  When I said to that wonderful Australian teacher, “I think I would like to live in Australia,” in true Aussie style, he remarked, “Don’t just think about it, sport…just bloody do it.”

That teacher taught me something else (apart from swear words). The three words that control our growth not only in world travel but in life in general are: fear, doubt and worry.  As he pointed out, “it’s not easy but if you can control those three emotions with enthusiasm, the world’s your bloody oyster..mate!”

As I have matured, I have come to the realisation; it doesn’t matter where you start in life, it’s where you finish, and along the way adding value to the lives of others without personal gain. In retrospect I can thank a poor start for giving me the strength to move forward, as the founder of AIV Group Travel and the many contacts that I make.

It’s clear we all have a story.

Doug Edwards Bio:

In the 80s and 90s I ran a Singles Adventure Club in Melbourne, taking the members around a variety of interstate and intrastate getaways.

Lots of friends were made over the years.  I organised regular cocktail parties, dinner parties, and exciting sailing and hot-air ballooning trips, to name a few. I am a travelling man. I have vacationed as a family unit, as a couple, in a group, and alone. Ending up in a hotel alone is the main reason I no longer wish to go solo. Now I am the Owner and Operator of All Inclusive Vacations, a global travel club arranging functions and group travel for people over the ages of 45 or 50.

You can find Doug Edward’s all inclusive travel vacations here and join his Facebook page.

Sonia Marsh Says: 

I cannot imagine what it must have been like for you being a child and hearing adults say, “it’s a pity, he’s such a nice boy” and “what will become of him.”  It amazes me how we can be influenced by adults, including our teachers and mentors. I also love what your Australian teacher said to you,

The three words that control our growth not only in world travel but in life in general are: fear, doubt and worry.  As he pointed out, “it’s not easy but if you can control those three emotions with enthusiasm, the world’s your bloody oyster..mate!”

Thankfully your Australian teacher had such a positive impact on your life.

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Comments

  1. Sonia Marsh says

    I think you summed your story up so well by stating:”it doesn’t matter where you start in life, it’s where you finish.” This is something many of us can learn from. Thanks Doug, and good luck to you with your “niche” travel business. I love All-Inclusive vacations and haven’t yet visited Australia. That’s my next destination as well as Panama; another country I’d like to visit.

      • Sonia Marsh says

        I’ll be there, although I never thought about All-Inclusive vacations in Australia. How would that work if you want to visit several parts of the country?

          • Sonia Marsh says

            Doug, the 18-day luxury adventure sounds amazing. I’d love to go on that trip. Can you guarantee me a spot on TV and radio to promote either, the authors from around the world and the “My Gutsy Story” contest, and/or to speak to groups about, “Gutsy Living: Life is too short to play it safe.” I’d be happy to speak and then I could travel around Australia and sample all the wonderful sites your company offers tourists. Just an idea.

          • Sonia Marsh says

            I’m afraid that so many Americans I know don’t travel as much as I enjoy doing. Most seem to take 7 days off max. which is very sad. Europeans travel more in my opinion. They also have more time off. What do you think?

  3. barbara says

    Great story! Sometimes the tough circumstances can be a blessing that pushes you toward something you really love. I know that’s true.

    I have vivid memories from the age of two as well. I also remember overhearing my grandmother tell someone she doubted anyone would ever be able to break through the wall I’d built around me. I think I was about 7 or 8 then. It’s amazing how other peoples thoughts and opinions can influence you.

    Luckily for you and for me we were able to rise above. Thanks for sharing!
    b
    barbara recently posted..My Dog Wrote His BiographyMy Profile

  4. Nikki says

    What a great story and an ispiring attitude to life. I am a great believer of making the best of everything you have at any age. It sounds like you have made one of your life’s passions into your career. I love that.
    Best wishes for your continued success.
    Nikki recently posted..You’re Not Normal!My Profile

  5. Menchu says

    Thanks for this gutsy story Doug! You inspire me a lot with it. We should have the fighting spirit and the will for everything we want to do.
    Menchu recently posted..Skin care organicMy Profile

  7. Born27 says

    What a amazing story Doug! everything truly is possible and dreams really do come true for those who believe. Thanks for sharing this with us and i wish you all the best in life.
    Born27 recently posted..Meetme ConferenceMy Profile

  9. Marla says

    Hi Doug! I am impressed that you followed your dreams and made them come true despite the negative “hits” that you took as a child. You help me to understand that no matter what hand we are dealt in life we can always make it right with the help and encouragement of those who truly care about us!
    My husband and I just took a 10 day tour of Costa Rica and it was great! I will definitely look you up for our next travel plans. Stay Happy!

    • Sonia Marsh says

      Marla, did you by any chance take the Caravel tour to Costa Rica? What did you think of the country? You know I lived in Belize for a year.

      • Marla says

        Yes I know-can’t wait for your book to come out! I had a real crazy experience in Belize a few years back! And yes, Will and I did the (I think) Caravan tour and it was very educational and a lot of fun! The country is beautiful-we toured from the east to west coast and met some fabulous people! We still laugh about the fact that there are no addresses or street names! I guess if you don’t want to be found that is one place to go!

        • Sonia Marsh says

          Marla,

          You have to tell me about your crazy experience in Belize. Our house had no street address or number either in Belize. I’m looking forward to hearing back from you.

          • Marla says

            I’ll be glad to! Trouble tends to find me especially when I am looking to escape it in a beautiful place like Belize! It might be a few words so I will e-mail it to you. I hope it makes you laugh! Hope you’re having a wonderful day!

  11. carol says

    That would make a fantastic and modern ad: “It doesn’t matter where you start in life, it’s where you finish, and along the way adding value to the lives of others without personal gain.” Thanks for the right direction, and it’s real food for thought!

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