You want to leave. You want to pack your bags, not look back and just go. You can feel something stirring inside of you. The craving to be behind the wheel full force on your way to somewhere greater. Out of your small town, out of the town you know like the back of your hand.
You would give up your favorite possessions just to get a glimpse at the world. You see how uncultured you are, yet you see how much culture you still need in your life. In order to survive you need the experiences and memories of different cities and people.
You don't need anyone to go with you, although that would be nice. You're not sure if someone can keep up with everywhere you want to go. You're not sure yourself where you want to go. You might have a couple destinations saved in the notes on your phone, but you're such a free spirit you'd hitchhike to an island if you could.
Your passport is close by at all times, even though you don't have the money for a plane ticket, nor do you have the opportunity.
You say you don't have the opportunity, but you're the only one holding yourself back.
You want to travel? Then go.
If you want to satisfy the unexplainable craving of emerging yourself within the rest of the world, then just go.
Work the ridiculous shifts, sell the clothes you might-possibly-could-perhaps-wear one day, pick two pairs of favorite shoes and condense your belongings into your favorite backpack and just go.
You will value your time of growth and development far greater than you will those new Adidas shoes. Eat a jar of pickles and save the glass and store every tip and spare change found. Label it "ADVENTURE" to keep it open to all the endless possibilities your future holds. Your future is what you make it. What you want out of it. Stop saying "I wish" and say "I did."
Your family and friends will try to discourage you. Be prepared. They will try to bring in reality, but YOUR reality is not THEIR reality. Don't limit yourself because of the "what if's" of the world because quite frankly, that's boring.
You regret one hundred percent of the shots you don't take, so take a shot in every country. Literally or figuratively, either works. Fall in love with people you'll never see again and think about them often. Expand your heart to love people and places more than you ever thought possible.
Spend your money on experience and memories, and it will last far greater than any material item ever could. Fill up your passport with stamps instead of focusing on filling up your world with the hottest items.
Buy a disposable camera, the memories will be just as clear as if you had a nice DSLR. Save the extra hundred dollars on the many late night burritos and Dr. Pepper you'll stop for in some town you've never heard of.
Take the time to travel to figure out where your heart is. How are you supposed to know who you are when you don't know who the rest of the world is? Travel to go and find yourself.
You're standing on the edge of the cliff, you can see the waterfall. You're taking in the beautiful scenery and the sounds of the water sloshing around at the bottom. You can feel the water misting back up against your skin and the sun beaming on your shoulders. You're so close you can taste the adventure. But, darling, imagine how much greater that would taste if you would just jump in.
