According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, wanderlust simply means “a strong desire to travel." We have all seen the inspirational Facebook posts or Instagram pictures glorifying the term. They are seriously everywhere nowadays. If you are like me, you probably get super inspired by these whimsical, aesthetically beautiful pictures. If these people can travel the world and visit beaches with white sand, and backpack in the greenest forest you have ever seen, you can too, right?
So maybe you talk to your friends about planning a trip somewhere. You start going out less and spend less money on all of the unnecessary items that you are realizing you spend a large chunk of change on. Things generally go well at the beginning, but then a little thing called life gets in the way, and unfortunately, as I am sure we're all learning, nothing in life is free.
Bills start getting thrown at you all at once, and a series of unfortunate events always seem to occur while you are in the process of saving money. Maybe you have an unexpected car repair, or you remembered you have a payment for the gym membership you never use.
So it may seem like the universe is working against you and your new-found desire to travel, but that doesn't matter! You just have to put these obstacles behind you and keep on saving for your dream vacation to Bali.
Things are finally getting back on track and you are feeling pretty good about this whole wanderlust thing, but then you realize you haven’t gone shopping in awhile and you are due for a "treat yo' self" day. There is a pair of jeans you have been eyeing at your favorite store, but you’ve been so good with your self-restraint. What if this purchase starts a whole money-sucking downward spiral? You have stayed strong this far. You can refrain from buying something so materialistic, right? Nope.
The money you finally saved up is burning a hole in your pocket. The struggle of deciding to treat yourself or save your money is causing so much internal conflict that it’s becoming unbearable. Finally you give in and buy the jeans, or whatever item that has been tormenting you for weeks on end. Maybe you feel okay about the purchase, or maybe you feel almost instant regret. Either way, you know that it will all be OK, and hey, at least you know you are capable of saving money, right?
Wanderlust is a pleasant word with a beautiful meaning to back it up. I am sure almost everyone has a desire to travel and see the world. Unfortunately, sometimes going on adventures and traveling is just out of the question. With this, some may feel as though they are missing out and not living life to the fullest, but that is simply not true.
We live in a beautiful world that has so much beauty and adventure to offer. It is unbelievably easy to feel like you are not living life to its full potential when you are looking at travel pictures and blogs all of the time. Let these things inspire you, not intimidate you. In the meantime, enjoy where you are in the present.
