The Yellow Envelope: A Story of How Two People Changed Their Path in Life
No matter who you are, there are times when the urge to give up the tedious daily routine kicks in. Even those who absolutely love their jobs have wavering days. However, for some, the repetition becomes so dull and monotonous that they cannot take anymore, opting instead to give up the humdrum for what they hope will be an exciting life change.
Kim Dinan and her husband are two individuals that did just this.
This couple moved half way across the country, set up home and progressed well in their chosen careers, but something was missing. Kim especially, felt like she was trapped.
So, after nearly a year of internalising her feelings, she approaches husband Brian to discuss the possibility of quitting their jobs in order to travel the world.
Now this is not a story of them simply packing up their bags and heading off into the unknown. This couple spent time planning and saving to make sure that they could sustain themselves on the road whilst looking for new ways to earn some money. They also sold all their unwanted possessions and their home – which I can personally attest to is not something that everyone can do.
Once the seed was planted however, nothing was going to stop this pair and before long they were saying goodbye to friends, ready to embark on a whole new life.
During one emotional farewell with friends, a yellow envelope containing a cheque and instructions on what to do with it was handed to them:
“Don’t overthink it; share your experiences; don’t feel pressured to give it all away”
Amazed and shocked by the generosity of their friends, they went away with mixed emotions of whether they were doing the right thing.
Where Did The Yellow Envelope Travel To?
The Yellow Envelope by Kim Dinan
Whilst reading this memoir, I began to reflect on my own travels and very quickly realised that even the yellow envelope in this story was more travelled then me and my husband. Quite a depressing thought really for someone who has the wanderlust bug.
This little yellow envelope started in South America, touring Ecuador, Argentina, Patagonia and Peru, even hiking up the Inca Trail; something that is still on our bucket list of places to see.
From there, this travelling duo and their little yellow package headed to Nepal to hike through the Himalayan mountains before splitting up so that Kim could take part in the now quite famous, Rickshaw run.
For those of you that have never heard of the rickshaw run, the basic idea is that a group of completely mad individuals get together, hire a tiny rickshaw and race 3,000km across India.
Throughout their trip they have to overcome homesickness, culture differences, shyness for doing something good with the money they have been gifted and major obstacles in their own relationship.
You not only get to follow this couple through the highs and lows of their trip you also get to read about the wonderful people they met along the way.
This is a book that, even if you have no desire to travel, will challenge you to think about what you want in life.
Would We Recommend The Yellow Envelope?
This is a book that I could personally relate to. We have been there, wanting to give up our 9-5 life for something different but felt like we couldn’t for numerous reasons. We have had blazoning arguments that have left us questioning whether, our new chosen lifestyle is all worth it and we have ultimately made a decision to continue down the road we are now following.
Kim, through her writing, has not only made me laugh out loud at times, she has made me sit back and think about what I am doing. On occasion, the words on the page in front of me replicated my own thoughts so completely that I had to stop and re-read them – it was like she was reading my mind.
Regardless of whether you have a desire to travel the world or just enjoy a good story this is a book that everyone will enjoy. It is a book that you will struggle to put down without reflecting on life.
For me its simple – I was completely absorbed with their tale, captivated to find out what would happen next and is definitely a travel narrative I will be recommending to others.
And, it’s not just us that loved this book:
“The Yellow Envelope is an intriguing and riveting tale of Kim’s travel adventures. I was especially intrigued by her process of self-discovery which is tightly woven into her experiences. She talks openly and honestly about earth-shaking moments, marital doubts, and quiet insights…often in the tone of sharing secrets with a best friend. Also, I loved the idea of the physical “yellow envelope,” a gift to be given away “in ways that make you smile and make your heart sing.” It’s a story with passion, risk, and humor.” – Rita Golden Gelman, author of Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World“
Who Is Kim Dinan?
Kim Dinan
Kim Dinan is an author and adventurer. Endlessly curious about the world, she has backpacked to over twenty-five countries on five continents and has called India, Mexico and numerous campgrounds around the USA home. Her love of the outdoors landed her a coveted job on Backpacker Magazine’s Get Out More Tour and has compelled her to climb mountains in the Himalayas, raft frigid rivers in Patagonia, and walk five hundred and fifty miles across Spain on her own. Her writing has appeared in Parks and Recreation Magazine, Northwest Travel Magazine, Trailer Life Magazine, Go Explore Magazine and OnTrak Magazine, among others. Her popular blog, So Many Places, was named one of the best outdoor blogs by USA Today and has been featured online by such sites as Huffington Post and BuzzFeed. She is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and lives in Ohio with her husband and daughter.
‘The Yellow Envelope’ is due to be published on the 4th April 2017 but don’t despair, it is already available for pre-order.
We did receive a free advanced review copy from Netgallery of this book but all views and opinions, as always, are our own.
