"Now is the time in your life to save your money" is a common phrase used when I speak of my plans to travel. Understandably so, as I am usually dreaming of the next trip before I've even arrived home from the current one. I spend a promising amount of time stalking travel websites looking for the next long weekend or holiday that I can manage to wander off somewhere. To me, its just the opposite. It's a time to go.
I have been fascinated by the idea of new places since I was old enough to understand that any experience my heart desired to have was no more than an airplane ride away. I suppose I have New York City to thank for that.
I was able to experience the city for the first time when I was 14 years old. Wandering around and taking in all of the new sights and smells opened my mind up to a whole new world, completely different than what I knew back home. I was fascinated by all of the different cultures, each claiming their own distinct place in the city. SoHo with its glamorous shopping district. Greenwich Village with its quaint cafes and blossoming tree-lined streets. The hustle and bustle of Chinatown, with it's unusual tastes and chaotic markets. I vividly remember my first subway ride from Manhattan to Times Square. Stepping out of the station and taking it in for the first time was just as I had always imagined it would be. Chaotic honking horns from hundreds of yellow taxis filled my ears and alluring smells of food truck eats had my taste buds all but popping out of my mouth. It was big and it was bright, and I was mesmerized.
Fast forward eight years later to December 31, 2015 around five o'clock in the morning, and I was en route for the Big Apple yet again. This time to ring in the new year in the middle of the madness of Times Square with one of my best friends.
We arrived at the Warwick Hotel with just enough time to store our bags and change our clothes. We threw on all of the layers we had in our suitcase, grabbed our scarves and hats, and headed out to brave the cold. A 10-minute walk and a quick stop for coffee later, I found myself back in the heart of Times Square. I was just as wonder-struck by its vast madness as I had been eight years ago. I had never seen so many people in one place. Many shared different languages, but all the same mutual excitement to ring in a brand new year in the most memorable way. It was New Year's Eve after all, a time in which you could not help but feel genuinely happy and positive towards the uncertainty of what an exciting new year could hold.
Fast forward again, 12 hours later and countless discussions about leaving to watch the ball drop in our warm hotel room with pizza and within walking distance to a restroom, we had finally made it into the last couple hours before that sparkling ball would fall from the sky. The music started and the excitement crept back in to overtake the aching feet and wind chapped faces. The streets sparked to life once again. We sang and danced and chatted our way into those final minutes. After hours of anticipation, the countdown began. The crystal ball slowly made its' famous descend. Lights flashed, confetti came from everywhere and we screamed happy new year at the top of our lungs along side thousands of strangers and new found friends. People from all over the world had came together for this moment. They embraced their loved ones and excitedly welcomed a brand new year.
As I crawled into bed that night to prepare my tired feet for three more days of exploring this indescribable city, I could not help but to be so thankful I had decided to book that ticket. Not having my "Times Square as the ball dropped and the confetti flood erupted" experience now seems unimaginable. I feel as if it set the tone for the year to come. It opened the door for a year packed with adventures and new experiences that were only a plane ticket away.
It was the moment I realized that I did not need to feel badly about throwing most of my spare dollars into travel.
It was the moment I realized that experiences are worth more than things.
Unlike acquiring things, experiences last a lifetime. They create beautiful memories that you are able to call upon any time that you feel the need for them, and they often teach us a little more about ourselves along the way. I'd like to think its a guarantee that you won't come home with regrets of the money you spent on exploring this big beautiful world.
