Throughout my whole life, I’ve never been someone who is content with sitting around and doing the same thing day after day. I tried my best throughout high school and my first year of college to surround myself with people that were similar in this mindset and were always up to do something new. Because what’s the fun in doing the same thing over and over again, anyway?
In my experience living in a pretty suburban town my whole life, I grew up with some amazing people, but also a lot of people that were trapped in this suburban mindset. With LA being the closest major city at an hour drive away, most kids spent their time in my town or the surrounding area, and never explored outside that much.
In my teenage years, I started to realize how incredibly different areas around me were, including the various subcultures and areas in Los Angeles that all offered something new and different. This sparked my interest immediately. I was so amazed how many different kinds of people, including their unique cultures and lifestyles, were so close to me, and so many kids had chosen not to see and explore them, instead choosing to sit in the comfort of their own home. We are meant to push out of our comfort zone; it is the only thing that truly makes us feel alive, gets our blood racing. Since then, I’ve done my best to see as much as I can, and to explore new places at every opportunity I get.
How I see it, you only get one shot at each day. If you wasted your day and it's over, it’s gone forever. That’s one less day you could’ve experienced something you never have before. There’s so much to see in this world that it’s almost overwhelming to think about trying to see it all in just one lifetime. This, more than anything, is why I try my best to live every moment to its greatest potential. Fit as much as you can into your days. You’ll never look back on a day and regret going and doing something you’d never done before, but you’ll certainly look back and regret a day where you decided to sit at home and do nothing.
Never say no to a new adventure. We all have obligations, but I make sure I have time for both. If you keep saying no or using the excuse of “I really shouldn’t, I have too much to do,” your whole life will flash before your eyes before you have the chance to live it. I make a point to never say “I wish I could do that/go there.” Instead, make it happen. Save up the money if you can’t afford it. Pack up your bags and leave the next morning. Nothing’s stopping you except for your own perception of reality. People will say “I wish,” or “In my dreams.” Chase your dreams and make them a reality; in my opinion, that’s the only way to truly live.
Make time in your life to expand your horizons, learn something new, and better yourself as a result. Keep seeking a new experience every single day, and you’ll be able to live your life to its absolute fullest potential.
