As I sat at the airport gate waiting for my flight to Barcelona, my dad texted me saying, “Enjoy this trip; traveling is the best education your mom and I could give you.” I sat there and simply smiled to myself. I’m lucky enough to have parents that support my crazy love of travel. I don’t travel just to see the popular landmarks, or to say I’ve been somewhere. I travel to embrace myself in a new culture, to see new ways of life, and appreciate the beauty in the world. I truly agree with what my Dad said. Traveling is one of the best educations one can have. Travel doesn’t have to be in far off lands. There is so much to learn just in one’s backyard. I am constantly exploring my own beautiful state of New Jersey. My adventures throughout the state are repeatedly shocking my friends and me as to how hidden beauty is in our tiny state.
Traveling far, however, can really affect you in ways you couldn’t imagine. You learn how to leave some of your thoughts, ideas, and judgments at the airport gate. You’re in a different place that isn’t home. At that moment, you can either stay exactly the same and become homesick, or you can embrace the new culture and enjoy the new land you’re in. I feel changing is the better option, this type of change allows you to be free, free to take on whatever comes your way. Author Spencer Johnson wrote, “When you stop being afraid you feel good”. It’s true, when you leave your fears at the gate, you can enjoy the beauty that’s right in front of you. You can try to speak the native language, even if it’s just Bonjour! You can try new foods like oxtail in Spain. When you stop being afraid you can wander a big city and appreciate getting lost. Being lost is not always a bad thing, we can discover so much beauty that could have been missed if we followed the map. Trust your instinct, you may know your way around more than you actually think. That is how I often am, wherever I travel to, I usually end up being the GPS for the group.
Traveling is almost like a cleanse for the soul. It allows us to reflect on ourselves, we can find confidence in our strengths, but also, realize our weaknesses. When we submerge ourselves into a new culture we can appreciate the new ideas, thoughts, and judgments that we return to our airport gate with. For some, small steps have to be taken while traveling, like testing the waters. For the rest of us, we jump right in and leave fear at the airport gate. However, for all the travelers out there, it’s the ability to be open minded that allows our travels to be that much greater. So, as one of my favorite authors, Kristin Newman, ends her memoir: “Get on a plane by yourself and go have an adventure.” Adiós, friends!
