I get it. It's expensive. There's so much planning to do. Who will you go with? What will you do? Breathe. Calm down. Work a few odd jobs, don't buy that $30 shirt, you don't need it. Spend a little extra time Googling things to do. I promise, it will all be worth it if you just pack a bag and go! As the number of your birthdays grow, so will the excuses you'll have not to do it. So now, while you can, get outta here. If you don't believe me, here are seven reasons that might change your mind:

1. Fewer responsibilities

It’s true, the younger you are, the fewer responsibilities you have. Young adults who are in college or have barely graduated aren’t likely to own a house or have children. If they have a job, it’s likely to be entry-level or part-time. A few vacation days should be easy to come by. Trust me, that retail store you work at will survive while you’re away for a few days.

2. No kids, no problems

Ask any parent, traveling was easier when the kids weren’t around. I honestly don’t know why my parents took my sisters and me so many places when we were young. Were they crazy? It’s easiest to travel without kids to take care of, pack for and make pee stops every half hour for. Before you venture into parenthood, travel as much as you can. It will eliminate quite a few headaches.

3. Girls' weekend/bro trip

I like to travel with my sisters. We’re all in our twenties, none of us married, all of us up for any adventure. I’m also up for trips with my best friends, none of us married, all up for most adventures. Not that being married prevents one from having a blast, but there’s just something about that girls’ weekend, bachelor camping trip or sibling bonding that makes the trip so enjoyable and memorable.

4. Good health

My papaw was a pastor at small churches for most of his life; he never had the time or money to travel. Several years ago my family took my grandparents on a trip across the country. My grandparents talked about that trip each time we saw them (at least once a week) for a year after we took that trip. They enjoyed it so much. My papaw’s health was failing for several years prior to that trip. His eyesight was poor, he couldn’t get around so easily. I remember thinking about how much I wish he were able to take that vacation many years before when he was in good health. Don’t wait until retirement to make trips. Don’t keep putting it off. Do it now.

5. Discover real diversity

The first time I visited a big city outside of my region was eye-opening. Being the boy crazy girl I am, the first thing I noticed was how tall the men were! The South has fine men, don’t get me wrong, but I’m a sucker for a man who’s 6’3" plus, and they were crawling all over Chicago. Also, obesity isn’t confined to the South like I was always lead to believe; however tasting food from other areas of the country has allowed me to understand why a lot of us have weight issues down here. (The South is the land of the best food, let’s be real.) Oh, and rednecks aren’t confined to the South either. They’re everywhere. Another reason I love visiting big cities or national parks/monuments is getting to hear and see all the different languages spoken by people from all over the world who visit and/or are residents there. We get so used to where we live, so comfortable. It’s a breath of fresh air to occasionally travel outside of our comfort zone to experience something new.

6. Learn what's out there

One of my favorite things to do is to discover something I never knew I was missing. I love to find hidden treasures in the form of a strange sculpture on the side of the road or a cannonball stuck in the side of a building nestled in random towns on road trips. I love to spend countless hours Googling the best places to eat in the town I’ll be visiting or finding all the events going on that day. You never know what you’ll see. But it’s out there waiting for you!

7. It will broaden your perspective

It's best to get a rounded view of the world before you become too engulfed in your own little circle. When I travel and when I interact with people from unfamiliar places, the stereotypes disappear. Yeah, some people in the northeast are a little snappy and there are a lot of cowboy hats in Texas. But Wyoming, the Dakotas, Idaho and Montana also have cowboy hats. I've come across some pretty rude people in the South. But I'm reminded there are a lot more things that connect us than divide us. We are people, a little different in opinions and ways of life, but underneath it all, we're still wired the same. We hurt. We like. We dislike. We hate. We love. When we travel and learn about different places and different cultures, it allows us to understand why people feel the way they do. Travel is necessary. Don't wait. Pack your bag. Take off!