There's something magical about traveling. Whether it's across the country or across town, the opportunity to explore and the possibility of adventure swirls in the air, and I can't quite explain it.
Maybe it's the smell of a new travel book, or the contentment I feel after my belongings are safely situated in my suitcase. Perhaps it's the peaceful flight or mindless car ride to new destinations, the foreign flavors dancing across my tongue as I test taste local foods, or the endless amounts of people watching from behind my cat-eye shades.
Whatever it may be, it never fails to leave me hungry for experience and thirsty for knowledge. Traveling forces us out of our comfort zone and into the wild world around us. The unfamiliar surroundings jerk our eyes from our phones, leaving us stranded and welcomed all at once. It's new and it's intimidating, and it's wonderful.
Isn't it amazing to think of the places existing outside of our own sphere? There are people shopping for birthday presents, or cooking loved ones dinner, or making long awaited business deals. Someone is popping champagne in celebration of a promotion, or hugging over the excitement of an engagement. Different cultures of people are living life each day. Friends and families so similar to our own experience their own intimate exchanges in unique ways.
Traveling also allows us to escape our pain, even if it's only temporarily, and take refuge in a new city. Here you can start over in a new place where no one knows your wrongdoings, accomplishments, heartaches or successes. You are your own person in a sea of strangers.
As I began packing for my trip to Rome, I gathered all of the precious suggestions and recommendations relayed to me from friends, family and books. I studied them carefully in order to make the most of my time abroad.
No matter where you're going or what you plan to do, embrace the adventure. The knowledge we gather while traveling cultivates a spirit of tolerance and appreciation. It enables us to think beyond our immediate actions and see the big picture.
