If there's one thing you should know about me is that my favorite thing to do is travel. I've been incredibly lucky to be so young and have already traveled to so many places on my bucket list...but trust me, I still have a long way to go. I've met so many cool people, seen so many incredible sights, and created memories I'll never forget, but the one thing I love most about traveling is that I continue to learn so much about myself. I believe that pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, trying new things, and seeing new places is a crucial part of self growth. Of course I can't deny the financial barriers and other logistic details that might make traveling difficult or effect how often we can travel. In saying this, it is important to remember your ultimate goal and if it is something that is important to you, just know there is ALWAYS a way.

1. Getting Away Puts Things Into Perspective

When you are in a new atmosphere and you see things that you have never seen, you will be blown away by all the incredible things that life has to offer. It will make you hopeful for the future, it will remind you of your goals and who you are/want to be as a person, and you will only want more of it. Especially if you travel alone, you will experience wholeness within yourself and become your own favorite company. Things might be crazy at home, but when you are taken out of reality for just a short amount of time, you will be able to center yourself and come back to real life with a whole new perspective.

2. You Become More Cultured & Educated About the World Around You

Even if you don't travel outside of the country, even if you go on a little road trip a few hours away from home, or even if you are visiting your aunt in Florida, getting away and seeing new places is crucial for exposing yourself to new ways of living. No matter where it is or how close or how far, the principle of being somewhere that isn't where you are from or where you were raised, shows you how other people live, other people's habits and practices, and even other people's cultures and religions. It teaches you how to be open minded and more willing to open yourself up to new experiences and also teaches you things about the world that other people may not know. Traveling is a great conversation starter and can set you apart from others - your experiences are unique and apart of YOUR story.

3. Being Uncomfortable Is Good For You

Leaning into discomfort causes you to grow as a person. When you are in an unknown place, around people that you aren't used to and surrounded by tastes and sounds that are unfamiliar, it is hard to be yourself and it really tests your ability to be patient and your ability to assimilate and adjust. I've been in situations like this before, but it has only helped me with my problem solving skills and strengthened my communication skills. Being uncomfortable was only temporary, and I learned that I can easily adjust in new environments and that I am stronger than I think.

4. IT IS FUN.

Think about some of your greatest memories. They are probably from trips you've taken, or conversations you had with new people or old friends or family on a vacation. All the photographs and videos you look back on or the nostalgic songs you listen to or the journal entries you reread from your traveling days always bring back a happy place. It should be your priority to make fun and happiness a key component of your life. If traveling is something that will bring you to this place there are ways to make it a regular activity within your life. Save up, go on group trips with people you love and split the cost, you don't have to travel far, and just make sure you will have fun wherever it is that you are or whatever it is that you do.

5. You Will Surprise Yourself

You are capable of way more than you might think you are. Do something that scares you, go somewhere new, and go make a new friend. I promise you will be okay and that you will want to do it 100 more times. These are "feel good" moments of life and memories you will never forget. If traveling is something new to you, or you want to do more of it, you will prioritize it and spend money on experiences rather than things. There are cheap alternatives like staying in a hostel or with a host family, there are travel blogs that teach you how to travel on only 50 dollars a day, if you research and invest in these experiences like I have, I promise you will surprise yourself.

Happy Traveling Dolls!