I’ve traveled across the United States, seeing everything from the glaciers of Alaska to the skyscrapers of New York City. I’ve seen the castles of Denmark and Germany, the fjords of Norway, and the breathtaking scenery of New Zealand. I’ve seen giraffes, elephants, and lions while traveling to countries throughout Africa, and have witnessed the beauty of Canada as well as the beaches of Mexico, Aruba, and the Bahamas. Although these places are all very different from each other, they share many things in common as well-- one of which being that they have all played a role in teaching me 5 of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in life.

1. It's okay to leave your comfort zone.

The world is filled with many different cultures and many opportunities to experience new things. It can be scary at times to open ourselves up to new experiences, but there’s no better way to learn than to do. There will be times you may not quite enjoy such experiences, but if nothing else they’ll strengthen your appreciation for aspects of your everyday life that you may have once taken for granted.

2. The purest form of joy can be found in the simplest things.

I’ll be the first to admit that materialism had once played a major role in my life. However, after witnessing the genuine happiness that transcended the meager situation of some of the world’s poorest children, I became aware that pure joy lies not in the objects people own, it simply lies within, among and between people. Even the simplest events and interactions of everyday life can supply endless amounts of joy.

3. Kindness is innate.

While the people of the places I have visited have different languages, clothing, educations, beliefs, and overall ways of life, they shared one major thing in common: they all demonstrated a great amount of kindness. Kindness is not something we need to learn or force ourselves to incorporate into our daily lives, it is something born within us and seen throughout every culture. Not showing kindness towards others is simply suppressing one of our innate characteristics and takes far more effort than it does to simply live our lives showing love for those around us.

4. There is always something to be thankful for.

Life is hard, and sometimes we may struggle making it through the day. However, we have all been given an incredible opportunity by being placed in a world filled with beauty expressed in such a wide variety of ways. Whether it be in the form of a mountain, ocean, or chance to interact with a wide range of people so different from ourselves, the world is filled with endless amounts of beauty. Though I have traveled far to find it at times, I’ve become aware that you don’t have to go long distances to experience it, for it’s all around us, always giving us something to be appreciative of.

5. There truly is no place like home.

Our world is filled with many beautiful places and things to see; however, at the end of the day there’s no place I’d rather be than home. While traveling has led me to develop an appreciation for many foreign places and cultures, there’s no place it has brought me to appreciate more than where I’m from.