Being 20 years old isn't too bad. It's like a second puberty between the teen years and adulthood, in the wondrous in-between of reckless freedom and constant responsibility. Some say it's the peak of everyone's life, if you're the kind of person who believes a person peaks once in a lifetime. The twenties are a time to figure out where you belong in this world and get yourself where your dreams want you to be. Travel is detox for the soul.
The moment you step off a plane you realize all the worries, stress and problems back where you live can wait for a while. Live in the now. Even if it's a trip to visit family or friends in other states, or a backpacking trip around Europe, traveling can feel like an adventure. So take it in, breath in the fresh air and appreciate the newness of being in a place you haven't visited before, or haven't been to in a while. In a way traveling is like bringing back your inner child. You see the world with bright, beaming eyes, admiring even the smallest of details and appreciating the landscape. It's a vacation and if you want to eat local pizza everyday, then go for it. You want to do nothing but relax, go for it. Travel should not have to be some restrictive checklist of things to do. Follow your intuition, go off the beaten path and the schedule. Some of the best times, adventures and memories were made purely by accident.
Travel takes away all of the negativity in your life just for a while. Will running away from your problems solve them? No. But taking a break from the stress of looking at the same problem everyday will cause you to see the situation with fresh eyes once you return home. With all the new places to explore and the activities to do, your sleep schedule will return to normal. You fall asleep pretty quickly from being exhausted and wake up rested because it's a brand new day with a million new things to explore.
Traveling doesn't have to mean bankruptcy. Travel smarter, not harder. Visit friends you haven't seen in a while. Not only do you get to reconnect, you will get to see their favorite parts of an area and most likely meet new friends along the way. Plan spontaneously, but wisely. It's OK to wake up one day and say, "today's the day, I need a new adventure. Time to go visit_________". The further out you plan, the less expensive your plane/transportation costs will be, as well as potentially a deal on lodging accommodations. By planning ahead, you're allowing yourself to make money in the meantime to pay off the plane ticket, lodging, food, gas and miscellaneous expenses, as well as save up some spending money for splurging.
There's little in this world that sparks the same nervousness and excitement as holding your tickets in hand and carrying your bags to the airport, knowing in only a few hours you'll be in a completely different place, free to explore and adventure. So take a chance with some friends and live a little. The cost of a plane ticket maybe expensive, but the memories, experiences and personal growth achieved along the way is priceless.
