Recently, I traveled abroad to Italy to go woofing. Now, while I worked a lot on this trip instead of the usual tourist-visits-Europe gig, I can honestly say that this trip changed my life. I think a large part of this is due to the culture I experienced there, and especially the people. One person, in particular, has had a huge impact on how I view the world. Arianna, an Italian woman who had just gotten done studying in Canada, is one of the most intelligent people that I have had the pleasure of knowing. During my time in Italy, Arianna and I had so many deep discussions about the world, politics, body image, mental health, and things that I rarely find people my age thinking seriously about.

Maybe I haven't found the right people to spend time with, but in my experience, college students are heavily concerned with partying, drinking, and the latest friend drama. I acknowledge that is an important conversation topic because those are things that we do in life, but I hardly think that they are very important. I would say that these topics are shallow and I could really care less about who Derek is dating now or what Stephanie did at last night's party. I would rather talk about solutions to helping the environment, how to change the stigma around mental health, or promoting a more positive society. And that perhaps is one of the most important lessons that Arianna taught me.

Learning to let go of these shallow things can sometimes be hard. It is easy to hold on to them, especially with social media. I am by no means an exception and I believe that there is a way to find balance with all of these things! You don't need to completely eradicate anything from your life. But shallow concepts and topics have a tendency to create depression, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy, If we are constantly comparing ourselves to others and how amazing we think their lives are, we won't be able to fully experience ours.

So stop thinking about what people will think if you post that selfie or if they will gossip about who you're dating or if they talk about something so and so did last weekend. In the long term, none of that really matters, and personally, I think we would be better off spending our energy focusing on the more important things in life.

Another thing that you need to let go of is people or thoughts that no longer serve you. If a friend has said hurtful things about you and decided not to talk to you anymore, it is okay to let go of them. If you are still feeling upset over an old breakup or a past fight between you and a partner, those feelings need to be forgotten. If they no longer serve you, let them go. It is also important to recognize that your feelings are valid, but you can't think about the bad and hurtful things forever. During my trip, I also was able to meet a yogi, Jess, who encouraged me to try to let the shit of life go past you as best you can.

There are so many things that happen that are completely out of our control and by trying to gain power over them, our expectations aren't met and it is easy to feel defeated and like a failure. It is better to focus on positive events and thoughts that will help you to grow. By letting go of negativity, we open ourselves to positivity.

We aren't perfect and of course, everyone needs a vent sesh or a good long cry every once in a while, but I challenge you to start letting go and to go more with the flow of the world. By understanding the need for flexibility, you can be a much happier person and inspire growth and positivity in others as well. So have fun, go practice everything in moderation, and try to start going with the flow.