To the ones who have never traveled,
What are you waiting for; leave tomorrow.
I have been fortunate enough, in the short 20 years that Ive been alive, to have traveled a handful of times. I have not only been to multiple states within the U.S. but to multiple European countries too. (Interestingly enough, I've been to more European countries than states in the U.S.) The first two trips to Europe I thankfully did not have to pay for because they were family vacations, but my third and most recent trip abroad was a school program. The grand total of the trip made me want to cry, but the experiences that I made on the trip were worth every penny. And when I get the chance to go back again, I will in a heart beat. This is why I believe everyone needs to travel at least once in their lifetime no matter the cost, both money wise and personally. Even if it's just to a different state you've never visited before, the memories you will make going to these new places will always trump the price tag. Think about it, and maybe this is just me, but wouldn't you rather have all these experiences and memories and having been to all these different places with just enough money to get by, or no experience of the world outside your city but you live lavishly. I think most would pick the latter of the two. Life is too short to not travel.
And I've seen it first hand. A girl on my school trip had never traveled outside of her small southern town, nevermind the state she lived in, before this trip. She was sheltered and had little to no experiences under her belt. When we first landed in Prague, the first city we visited on our extensive agenda, there was an awe to her that didn't seem to fade until we returned back to the US 28 days later. When she had told us one night that this was the first time she had ever left the 10 mile radius of her home town, most of us were shocked to say the least. But what she told us next I will never forget. She had said that this trip would only be the beginning of her future travel plans around the US.
And that got me thinking that maybe all everyone who had never traveled before really needed was that one trip. That one life changing vacation that would send them into the travel frenzy we all secretly desired. There is no time limit when you travel too. Whether you go for five days, a week, or even a month, the fact that you're traveling is good enough. So stop making the excuses and just go. Even if you can not be as dramatic as the people who sell everything they possess in order to travel the world, take a week off of work or school and go make some memories.
