Meet Liveta: A Journey from Burnout to Bold Adventures – Mènuo

After years of feeling lost and stuck in a career that drained her spirit, Liveta found the courage to rewrite her story through travel. What began as a desperate
escape from burnout blossomed into a life-changing passion—a journey of self-discovery, bravery, and relentless pursuit of freedom. Despite being a deeply introverted person who once feared stepping into unfamiliar places alone, Liveta took a leap into solo travel, facing uncertainty and fear head-on.
Join us as Liveta shares her inspiring story—her struggles, lessons, and dreams—and offers heartfelt advice for anyone dreaming of turning travel into a fulfilling lifestyle. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or just starting to dream, Liveta’s journey reminds us that sometimes, the greatest adventures begin with a simple decision: now or never.

Tell us your story.

After finishing my studies, I spent quite a long time trying to find myself. I had no idea what I wanted to do or where I wanted to work. Throughout my university years and even after graduation, I worked a variety of jobs. Eventually, I ended up stuck in the banking sector for quite some time, and I completely burned out in that role. Travel became my only escape.
But at one point, I realized travel shouldn’t just be a way to run away—it could be a lifestyle, something that genuinely brings me joy. Once that realization hit me, I decided to change jobs. That decision came with a lot of self-doubt and uncertainty about what would come next. I really wanted to build a career around travel, because at the time, I was absolutely obsessed with planning trips.
At first, I would create detailed itineraries for myself, then refine them after each trip. My heart would sing while organizing every detail—especially since I love structure and order. However, I couldn’t see myself working in a traditional travel agency, as I don’t enjoy the kind of packaged travel experiences typically sold there. I’m a full-on ambassador of independent travel.
So, it was on to plan B—and I started working in aviation. Today, I’m a travel enthusiast and a Cabin Crew Coordinator. A few years ago, I set a personal goal: to visit 30 countries before turning 30. I still have one year and three countries left to go.
I often joke that if a trip ever goes completely smoothly, I’ll buy a lottery ticket. In Sicily, our car was nearly towed. In Greece, I got into an accident with a motorcyclist. In Albania, I was driving at night and one of the car’s wheels was literally hanging over a cliff. In the Azores, I injured my leg. In Mexico, I wasn’t allowed to leave the country, so my return to Lithuania was delayed. In Armenia, I slept through a tour—which, honestly, turned out to be more of a blessing than a misfortune. I’ve been kicked out of an airport at night and had to wait outside until it reopened. In Tenerife, we fell for a scam and ended up with no money and no place to stay. And during a road trip across Europe, our car broke down.
But the most unforgettable event was flight FR4978 in 2021—a flight from Athens to Vilnius that was forced to land in Minsk, escorted by fighter jets. That experience will stay with me for the rest of my life.

What inspired you to change your life?

As I mentioned, I was exhausted and burned out. I wasn’t happy at work or in life in general. I felt completely drained and deeply unhappy. That’s when the idea of taking my first solo trip started to take shape.
I’ve always considered myself a deeply introverted person. I feel uneasy in unfamiliar places, especially when I’m alone and surrounded by strangers. I used to call my mom or sister just to feel less alone—even while walking through shops. But I’d heard so many stories about solo travel—how it transforms people and how everyone should try it at least once in their life. That made me start thinking about it too, especially because I already had a few regrets about things I hadn’t done. I didn’t want this to become another lifelong regret.
Then I stumbled across some videos and photos of the Azores—and I fell in love. I knew immediately that this would be the destination for my first solo trip.
Of course, my introverted nature crept back in, and I kept asking myself: Am I really ready? Can I actually do this? But in the end, I made a decision: now or never.

How did you prepare for the trip?

While my entire family was sitting down for Christmas lunch, I was at my computer—heart racing, hands shaking—giving myself a Christmas gift: my first solo trip to São Miguel in the Azores.
I started looking at flights and quickly realized I’d need to book six separate ones due to all the connections. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that level of stress—trying to make sure I had the right dates, times, and airports. After buying all the tickets, I sat in front of my laptop for ten minutes, trembling and wondering what I had just done.
Then came the planning stage—and I had only two weeks. I read blogs, watched travel content on social media, and started piecing together my itinerary: what I wanted to see, where to eat, what dishes I had to try, the best hikes, where to rent a car, and so on.
I also had to find a place to stay—and this trip wasn’t just my first solo travel experience, it was also the first time I stayed in a hostel. Once all the research was done, I packed a single backpack with only the essentials. I spent a lot of time on that too, trying not to overpack. And just two weeks later, I was on my way to São Miguel.

Is it scary to take on life-changing adventures?

Absolutely, yes. But after my first solo trip, I realized there’s really nothing to be afraid of. Whether I’m traveling solo, with friends, or with my mom, I’m always the one who plans everything and takes responsibility for the trip.
When you travel solo, the only real difference is that you don’t have to worry about whether everyone else is happy with the plans. The downside is that if something goes wrong, there’s no one else to turn to—you have to handle everything yourself. I remember how my body was under constant stress during the two weeks between booking my flights and actually arriving in the Azores. Mentally, I felt okay, but my body made it clear just how much pressure I was under.
During the first few days, I was too nervous to talk to anyone at the hostel. The thought of sitting in a shared lounge and chatting with strangers was terrifying. But after just a couple of days, I started to feel more confident and settled in. Soon, I couldn’t believe I had ever felt that way—I was meeting amazing, fascinating people from all over the world, and I loved it.

What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned from traveling? Did you discover anything new about yourself?

As I’ve mentioned, I’m a strong introvert. But I truly believe that travel helps “heal” that part of me. It pushes me out of my comfort zone, teaches me how to talk to strangers, and shows me how to be comfortable alone in places where I’d normally feel uneasy. After going on solo trips, I no longer feel awkward attending events by myself. I’m not afraid to compliment people or share my opinion—even though I still consider myself a bit of a “people pleaser.”
Of course, my introverted side is still very much there and often makes itself known—but travel has helped me learn how to manage it better. I believe travel changes everyone in some way and always teaches you something new about yourself. I’ve learned that I’m actually a pretty brave person. People often ask how I’m not afraid to drive in foreign countries—especially in places like Albania. My answer is always the same: “If not me, then who?”

If you could start over, what would you do differently?

I would’ve started traveling much earlier—and I definitely would’ve taken the leap into solo travel a lot sooner.
As I mentioned before, there are things I regret not doing—like the opportunity to study abroad during university or to join the Work and Travel program. I was too scared to go alone to an unfamiliar place and be surrounded by strangers. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t hesitate to apply—even if I was scared out of my mind.

What advice would you give to someone dreaming of this lifestyle?

Honestly, my lifestyle is far from a dream. I work a regular 8-to-5 job. I don’t own any property. I spend almost all the money I earn on travel. And even then, I don’t travel as much as I’d like because I have to fit everything around work.

What are your future plans?

They’re simple: to complete my goal of visiting 30 countries before I turn 30, and to finally explore my two dream destinations — Peru and Japan. And, of course, to seize every opportunity life gives me.
Right now, I’m in intensive training to become a flight attendant. I entered aviation without any previous experience, and while working as a cabin crew coordinator, I often felt that I lacked the knowledge, especially since most of my colleagues were former flight attendants. This year, our company offered office employees the chance to become flight attendants as well. Although I had some doubts, I decided to go for it.
I won’t lie — it’s really hard to work and study at the same time, but I know that one day I’ll thank myself for making this decision, even if I don’t fly as often or as much as traditional flight attendants, since my main job will still be in the office.