Spending almost one month abroad early this summer reminded me a few things about myself I had almost completely forgotten. I think most of us lose touch with the things we love about ourselves because we get so wrapped up in classes and clubs and jobs and significant others, etc. After a long time of searching, a vacation was all it took for me to ground myself and realize what it is I truly want.
Use your vacations and excursions wisely as you grow older. Take time to yourself because the things I learned weren't new they had just been hidden. Here are a few of the things I realized and I hope you all take time to figure out.
1. Your happy place can be wherever you want it to be.
The term happy place is not one that can be placed in a little box and used to mean the same thing. A happy place can be you in a chair sipping tea or you sitting in the library breathing in the scent of crisp new book pages. For others, a happy place is a city like Paris or a place like a beach or the countryside. However, this term carries meaning for all of us. A happy place is where you find yourself truly happy and confident in yourself. It is a place where your persona completely changes because you are in pure bliss. This is a truly important aspect of finding yourself.
2. Finding yourself means disconnecting from the world and listening to your soul.
Being on a cruise ship for three weeks meant no WiFi. At first, I was pretty disappointed and skeptical that I would have any fun at all without my precious little screen and of course without my lifesaver, Netflix. After this time, I can clearly see the importance of disconnecting oneself from the world. I had time to take in the world and actually see what was in front of me (thanks Google, but I didn't need you this time). I got to actually connect with real humans and meet new people. I learned to actually live in the world and experience the cultures of others.
3. Step out of your comfort zone.
Risks are possibly the most important, yet difficult things you will take in your life. If you are like me, you love your comfort zone because it is your bubble of safe haven and sanctity. But every once in a while, step out of your bubble because you never know what adventure life is holding out there for you. You never know who you are going to meet today that will change your life so step outside, breath the fresh air and let the universe take you.
4. Have a little fun once in a while.
I know we all get caught up in college and studying. We get stuck in the "we have to be the best" mentality that we rarely take time for our own mental health. Take a day off every once in a while and have some fun, I promise it will do you well. Dance with a stranger. Sit on the beach and people watch. Laugh with your best friends until you can't breathe. The little things always work out to be the best things so try not to take them lightly.
5. Being abroad can teach you so many lessons.
Being abroad, whether you are studying or just strolling through the streets, can teach you so much about yourself and what you want. You learn to adapt to other cultures and speak new languages. You learn that your world may not always be the best one with all the right answers or the right way to do things. You learn to be open-minded and accepting of others. If you have the chance and the means, do your best to make it out of your hometown. You won't come home to the same person you left as.
