The exploration of the unknown is a common theme in American history and culture. The desire to find new lands and discover different experiences is what led us here in the first place and is what has motivated the expansion and diversity of the country. This tradition of exploring has carried over decades and decades. Now, in a time where you can get across the country in a few hours and across the world in a mere day or two, traveling is so much more accessible and desirable. However, the wanderlust movement today is often a bunch of dreaming, planning, pinning on Pinterest, and not actually doing. We are often flooded with reasons "not to go:" school, money, work, time, and just plain lack of actual motivation. Well, here are your reasons. Do not deny yourself anymore. Explore:
To smile. Explore to find the places and people that make you smile. Maybe it is on a beach in the Bahamas, or it could be zip lining through the Pacific Northwest forests. Perhaps it is riding on the backs of elephants or sipping on an espresso in Italy. If you are smiling, chances are you are happy, and who doesn't want to find happiness?
To engage the senses. Getting out and actually using the senses is often overlooked in our culture of screens and remotes. Actually smelling the salty sea air or the thousands of smells in street markets around the world, actually touching the mountains and fields and nature that surrounds us, and hearing the sounds of people, animals, and environments we have never heard before, actually looking around, with your own two eyes, not just pictures, at the wonders of the world is like creating a massive Instagram account in your own head, and you will always have those pictures in your mind.
To find who you are. Traveling is not only a way to explore with your body, but also a way to explore your inner self. Be it spiritually, emotionally, or any other "-ally" you can think of, you never know when you will be struck by something. These experiences shape who you are and help you discover who you want to be and where your true passions lie.
To find who you are not. Just as it has the power of showing you who you might be, exploring shows you who you might not be. Despite popular belief, just because you choose to not be some way or follow some path does not mean that you don't have the capability of understanding and respecting that way of life. There is still a way to enjoy yourself and explore.
To create a life you are proud of and excited to share. I don't know about you, but I have no pride when I say I spend half of my time watching Netflix and the other half on social media. We only get one life, so we should be proud of it. Traveling allows you to create those experiences that you are proud to share and excited to display to the world. All of your adventures and explorations build up into a massive database of talking points and sharable experiences. There is nothing more frightening than the fact that I could die without having seen the things I wish to see. I know there is not time for everything, but that doesn't mean I can't try. So get out there. Stop saying "maybe next year," or "just one more episode." Go explore and test the boundaries. Get your wanderlust on.
