ADULT GAP YEAR SERIES: Wanderlust: Family Edition with Charles Achampong

Charles Achampong joined Michelle to share the story of how his family took a year-long trip around the world. What began as a seed of an idea on his honeymoon in Rio de Janeiro became a 10-year plan that ultimately transformed his family's relationships, perspectives, and approach to life. About Charles Husband and father of two girls (ages 9 and 12) 20+ years across public, private, non-profit, and philanthropic sectors Focuses on helping communities solve complex problems Now speaks and writes about the power of pausing and intentional living Author of Around the World in Family Days How It Started His wife planted the seed on their honeymoon — a dream to take their future family around the world Became a 10-year financial and logistical plan The pandemic reinforced their decision — life is short, and waiting isn't guaranteed Originally planned as an African safari for her 40th birthday; evolved into a full world trip Key Barriers They Faced Financial fear — shifting from scarcity mindset to values-based decision making Logistics overwhelm — schooling, travel routes, work; most were solvable Illusion of readiness — there is no perfect moment; you have to interrupt life yourself Identity — letting go of titles, productivity, and career momentum Execution reality — fatigue, missed flights, sibling arguments; growth comes from friction Values-Based Decision Making Most pre-trip decisions were default decisions, not deliberate ones The gap year forced the question: What do we value enough to reorganize our lives around? Key family values identified: Quality time together before kids become teenagers Exposing children to the world beyond the classroom Living in alignment, not just in stability Practical exercise suggested: Review your last 3 months of calendar — where is your time going? Review your last 3 months of bank/credit card statements — where is your money going? Do these reflect your actual values? Advice for Others "Don't wait until life forces you to pause — practice choosing a pause intentionally." You don't need a full year; even micro-sabbaticals create meaningful disruption The goal is disruption of routine, not just duration Get honest about what's really holding you back — it's usually fear, not logistics Involve your kids (or family) in the planning process Resources & Links 🌐 Website: https://www.charlesachampong.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesachampong/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroundtheworldinfamilydays/ 📖 Book: Around the World in Family Days: What We Learned When We Left It All Behind and Traveled the Globe Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association   Find more resources at the Can Gap website https://www.cangap.ca/ Follow on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/cangapassociation/ Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ucangap Follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/ucangap Follow on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBit8gLXEOxaBggoGmykjQ