Those who have a desire to explore and experience the world probably have a case of Wanderlust. In other words, they are consumed by the aspiration to travel. Anyone can catch a case of Wanderlust, usually from scrolling through Facebook and staring in awe at those really cool people who have the freedom to travel the world year-round. There’s something that is striking by a person who is well-traveled. Something about that world-traveler Facebook friend strengthens the desire to explore those sights for yourself and not just through a screen. The miraculous images of Machu Picchu in Peru or Athens, Greece cause your heart to skip a beat because the world you exist in doesn’t quite look like that.
Wanderlust is a beautiful, yet scary thing to acquire. It heartbreakingly comes into your life and then slowly leaves with the help of adventure and new experiences. Here are a few of the symptoms that will help you self-diagnose your wanderlust:
You have a travel Pinterest board. You follow travel accounts on Twitter. You read travel blogs. (If you don’t, go to aspiringann.wordpress.com).
You’re constantly thinking about what life is like across the Atlantic. Or what the air feels like on top of the Rocky Mountains. Or how the hot springs in Iceland look so relaxing.
Pictures of Times Square inspire you to purchase a spontaneous plane ticket and rent a small loft apartment for a few months.
The mystery of indigenous communities or old architecture that still exist intrigue you.
The balance of your bank account doesn’t scare you away from the trip of a lifetime because you know that if you don’t make it happen now, you might not ever.
The idea of your passport being full of stamps is extremely satisfying.
If any of those statements agree with you, then you already know you have some heavy wanderlust. You are someone who values the world as a whole and not just as one country. Someone who understands that the vastness of the experiences owned trump materialistic possessions. Someone that knows deep within them that they are not meant to remain in the same place their whole life, yet they always have the power to return home. You know the world is ours to explore and learn from.
The only way to cure the case of wanderlust (depending upon how bad it is) is to go. Just go. No matter your age or your financial situation, make it happen.
Travel to the closest body of water and let yourself be enveloped by the sight. Go to the nearest city and learn the history of it. Try new food. Run a different route. There are experiences everywhere that can create a bond with you and that place. That’s what it’s all about, after all. The two most solidified things we know to be true in our lives are ourselves and the foundation we live on. Wanderlust can be cured, for the time being, by experiencing a place in a new way.
Knowing and loving another place, whether it be a city or a lake or a continent, can change a person’s entire conscious. That’s the secret beauty of travel. It isn’t always pretty, but it’s always impactful on your heart and your mind. Whether it’s a weekend trip to Las Vegas or a month in Tanzania, there will be new emotions and new insights gathered along the way. Wanderlust gets you there, what you do after that is up to you.
Don’t be afraid to conquer your Wanderlust. The diversity of our world is too great to not witness it. You’ll spend so much time on this Earth and what a shame it would be if you didn’t have a relationship with all the wonders that exist here. It is your duty as a living breathing human to not stand in the same place, but instead, take that step forward. Meet the people on the other side of the world. Cry with them. Smile with them. Then, return to your home, a new person. A better person.
Oh, and a tip for your journey: before you take the picture, take a minute. Breathe. Admire. Experience.
