Life lessons are not taught in a classroom. Life lessons are often not taught at all. Rather, they are learned through experiences. While reflecting on the many life lessons I have learned thus far, I realized that I correlate the most valuable of them with places I have journeyed to. Traveling is a passion of mine. Beyond my love for traveling is a true appreciation for who I am because of where I've been. Here are a few of my favorite travel experiences, and the life lesson each destination taught me:
Destination: Las Vegas, NV
Lesson: Home can be found in seemingly unconventional places.
Okay, maybe I'm cheating a little on this one. Although, you could say I did "travel" to Vegas before moving here when I was six, but I felt the need to start here. To most people, Vegas is nothing more than a city created to house copious amounts of hotels, clubs and slot machines. But to me, Las Vegas is so much more. Las Vegas is so much a part of me. Las Vegas is my home. I went to school here, met my best friends here, and fell in love here. And though it may seem a little weird to some, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Destination: Brussels, Belgium
Lesson: It isn't about acquiring things--it's about experiencing things.
It may take experiencing a place as beautiful as Brussels to realize what I realized in Belgium. True fulfillment in this life cannot be derived from buying and having all that you want. True fulfillment comes from experiencing beauty, love and awe. Don't worry about what car you drive, how many items of clothing you have or how often you can afford to shop. These material things are only temporary, while experiences never expire. Take time to travel, to explore. Feel things. Let yourself be immersed. I am forever indebted to Brussels for teaching me such an invaluable lesson.
Destination: New York City, New York
Lesson: I love being busy and I thrive under pressure.
I'm pretty sure the term "hustle-and-bustle" was created to describe the atmosphere of a usual day in NYC. This place can be hectic and at times a little crazy. People are always moving--doing. Time is valuable and it's spent sparingly. As a west coast girl, this attitude prompted a culture shock for me, to say the least. But I loved it. I realized that I thrive in fast-paced environments. I love learning and trying new things. I hate wasting time and love being as productive as possible. Under pressure, I do my best work, and it took going to the city that never sleeps to realize it.
Destination: Nassau, Bahamas
Lesson: Make time for relaxation.
The moment I set foot in Nassau, my entire being calmed. Life there seemed so simple. I spent the entire day lying on the beach, sipping a fruity drink out of a coconut. My mind was calm and free of worry. I know what you’re thinking, “of course you were chill Taylor, you were on vacation!” But that isn’t what I mean. What I learned is that in the craziest of times, relaxation is what centers me. I can solve problems and tackle everyday issues with ease if I allow myself to take a second to breathe from time to time. Since my visit to the Bahamas, I try to always make time for relaxation
“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” -Sydney J. Harris
Destination: Garden City, UT
Lesson: Stop and enjoy nature.
I am not an outdoorsy girl by nature (pun intended). I’ve never gone camping and will almost always opt for a day of shopping before a day of hiking. However, after visiting the small town of Garden City, Utah I began to realize that the great outdoors really is great. On this trip we biked, hiked, and swam constantly. Since that adventure-filled week I truly have grown to love my time spent in nature and have developed a true appreciation for it. There is so much beauty around us, so stop and experience it.
Destination: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Lesson: Being different is a good thing.
So much of growing up is realizing who you are. For most of us this isn't an easy process. The constant questioning of whether or not you fit in is what makes it so challenging. What I realized, being in a place as unique and beautiful as Amsterdam, is that being different is okay. In fact, it's great. Being yourself and owning it is the key to personal acceptance and confidence. You don't have to dress, act and look exactly like everyone else because your unique qualities are what make you special. Be who you want to be and don't mind what others might think about it.
Destination: Cozumel, Mexico
Lesson: Life is meant to be enjoyed.
It’s easy to get caught up in the monotonous cycle of life. Work, school, study, sleep, repeat. From a very young age, most of us are taught to work as hard as we can to get where we want to be. Take extra hours at work, skip nights of sleep to ace a final, do whatever you need to do. As much as I advocate hard work and “no days off”, my day in Cozumel made me realize that this life is so much more than the day-to-day grind. It's so much more than just monetary success and comfort. Life is about enjoyment. It’s about happiness, and I believe to be truly happy, you must do things that you enjoy and do them often.
“Do anything, but let it produce joy.” -Walt Whitman
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then an experience is worth a million. There is no way to quantify the lessons I have learned through my experiences in all different parts of the world. Even now, after having traveled to eleven countries and too many states to count, I have a desire to see so much more. I advise you to travel. Go as far as your mind and soul can take you. Meet people and try new things because there really is no experience like it. You may get lost on your journey, but in the end, you will find yourself.
