Where is my next destination? The question begs an answer as my mind drifts into a state of dreaming, bouncing from voluptuous cloud to voluptuous cloud, dipping from blue skies onto lands and seas all new to me.
I, like many others, suffer from wanderlust – the incessant desire to travel. I speak of wanderlust as if it is an incurable condition, but in a way, it is. Wanderlust is an itch than never ceases (sounds annoying, right?), but with the beginning of every adventure comes an electric excitement and with the end comes a demanding desire to see more of the world. From the time I was a tiny tot until now, I've always known I was destined to travel the world, but how exactly does one know? Here are 10 signs you're destined to travel.
1. Your curiosity sometimes gets the best of you.
Whether it be the time you broke your leg after falling out of the enormous oak tree in your grandma's backyard, or the time you got lost in the middle of the woods chasing after "weird noises," you're willing to do almost anything for the sake of discovery and satisfying your curiosities. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it usually rewards the human.
2. You'll try anything once.
Your friends might gawk at the idea of eating an outlandish delicacy or get queasy at the thought of jumping from a plane 15,000 ft in the air, but not you. You approach new things with open arms, even if you don't embrace them when it's all said and done. You're the one who shrugs your shoulders, spouts your life mantra (YOLO), and goes for it. Fear is not going to hold you back from living.
3. You're fascinated by other cultures.
The only class you actually WANT to go to at 8 a.m. is Cultural Anthropology. You secretly have one-person dance parties featuring Bollywood music on the regular, and you consume more Mexican food (not Chipotle) in a week than the average Mexican. You know foreign languages almost as well as your native one. Some people might call you a cultural appropriator, but you actually respect and wish to immerse yourself in other cultures.
4. You have a passion for rich history.
Towering cathedrals with marble facades and vaulted ceilings, complete with ornate decorations inside and out. Once bloodied battlefields from wars that shaped the way the world works now, and museums filled with art dating back hundreds and perhaps thousands of years. These are places you dreamed about visiting because you know all there is to know about their compelling histories. In fact, you can spit out historical facts faster than a pitching machine gone haywire.
5. You're a total nature buff.
Every weekend is spent in the woods, on the lake, or on a beach. Being inside bores you to tears, your Chacos are so worn out they're barely hanging on for dear life, and you'd rather catch a breathtaking view of the sunset at the top of a mountain than catch the latest Marvel movie.
6. You always have a camera in your hand.
Your perspective of the world is often seen and captured through a lens. You love taking photos and videos of family and friends, and the beauty around you, but you fantasize from time to time what it would be like to work for National Geographic and capture the sights and people outside of your comfort zone.
7. You grew up in a small town.
No matter how much pride and love you have for your small hometown, you always wonder what the "real world" is like away from the nest. All the kids in high school who said they "can't wait to get out of here" are stuck at the local community college, but not you. You got away for awhile and you're ready to see what is beyond those rural country roads.
8. You're a nomad.
Maybe your mom and dad moved around frequently for work when you were a kid and now you can't seem to break the habit and settle down, or maybe you're never satisfied with calling one place home for too long, it seems like you're only in one place for a few months until you're onto the next one. Might as well sell all your belongings and backpack around the world.
9. You're bored by the day-to-day mundane.
Routines just aren't your thing. Wake up. Eat breakfast. Get ready. Go to class. Eat lunch. Go to class. Go to the gym. Shower. Eat dinner. Study. Watch Netflix. Sleep. Repeat. Nope. The whole routine thing is not for you. You've got to spice up each day with a little spontaneous adventure or else you'll be bored out of your mind.
10. You value experiences over material goods.
You would rather save up every little penny for months in order to take your dream trip to Paris than impulse buy that new pair of shoes that are screaming your name. If you won the lottery, you'd travel the globe twice before you even thought about buying a Lamborghini. Making memories that you will treasure for a lifetime sounds way more appealing than an entire wardrobe that'll last you for a season or two.
Whether you relate to one or all of these signs, chances are you are destined to travel. But don't worry too much about where you destination is, just make sure you have one.
