Since I was a little girl, I’ve traveled hundreds of miles by plane, car, train, and boat. I’ve been to Alaska, Nevada, Arizona, California, Oregon, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Washington D.C. Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and of course, Michigan. In addition to that, I’ve been to Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Italy. All in nineteen short years of life. There are two things I am sure of—1.) that I am no where near done with my traveling days and 2.) that everyone should travel the world one day.
Whether you go near or far, you need to leave. I’m not saying you shouldn’t come back back, but it’s necessary to take that leap. It’s scary. It’s unknown. It very well could be quite expensive. But above it all, it’s worth it. It’s worth it because the amount of character, knowledge, and perspective that you gain is priceless. So—here are a few reasons you should consider packing your bags:
1.) You don’t know delicious food till you’ve traveled.
You think Taco Bell is Mexican food? It’s not. Try having a native Costa Rican cook you refried black beans and rice and you’ll truly learn the meaning of savory. I constantly dream about the freshly caught coconut crusted fish I had on a trip to Key West, Florida. How about jambalaya in New Orleans? Fresh pasta and lemon liquor in Italy? Lobster Rolls on the East Coast? Let’s not forget Michigan cherries. Fresh pineapple off the side of the road in Maui. Or a real Chicago deep dish pizza. What it all comes down to is this-- you don’t know delicious food till you’ve traveled
2.) Culture shock is a thing. A wonderful thing.
Let’s talk music. Art. Architecture. Attire. Customs. The world is a very diverse place. Especially if you’re traveling abroad. Most of the time, it’s hard to adjust to something completely different, but no one said you had to adjust. Traveling is about adventuring, exploring, and learning. It’s about immersing yourself in a new culture and style of living than everything you’re used to. You may be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so take advantage of what is presented to you. You may hate it… you may love it. But absorbing in another culture not only makes you a more educated person, it makes you a well-rounded person.
3.) Oh the places you will go (and the sights you will see).
Whether it be historical landmarks, or beautiful views, this world has SO much to offer. Mountains covered in snow with moose nonchalantly grazing nearby, the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, everything San Francisco, the Alamo, the grand city of Chicago. Cedar Pointe in Ohio, Mammoth caves in Kentucky, the majestic town of New Orleans, Disney World. The real life document of the Declaration of Independence, the Lincoln memorial or the Washington monument. The Brooklyn Bridge or the Statue of Liberty, seeing the stunning islands of Hawaii via helicopter. The Upper Peninsula or the Mackinaw Bridge, Niagara Falls, the Mayan Ruins, San Jose, or the Coliseum. These are just from the four countries and the twenty-two different states that I have been to. Now ask yourself—Am I missing out on something amazing? The answer should always be yes.
4.) Everyone deserves a little TLC from time to time.
Not every vacation or trip has to be full of sight seeing and adventuring. Sometimes all you need is a day at the pool basking in the sun or digging your toes in the sand at the beach. Let me tell you, a little vitamin D does wonders.
5.) Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
You’ve all heard the cliché. Traveling somewhere new is scary. Everything and everybody is strange and unfamiliar. But the second you step out of your comfort zone is the second you start living. You will never know if you’ll like something until you try it. So say goodbye to your boundaries and start exploring. You may just like it…
6.) It’s a great reminder at how fortunate you are.
Whether I am in the poorest part of Costa Rica, or in grandiose Rome, I am reminded of how lucky I am. Being away from home naturally makes you miss it. You are so excited to leave, and yet somehow, more excited to go home to your own bed and reality. People live such different lives than us around the world. Maybe they don’t have the best facilities for education like in Costa Rica, or the best water sources like in Mexico. They may have to wait in rush hour traffic every morning to get to work, or take the subway instead of having the leisure of taking their own car everywhere. Or maybe, the trip was altogether such a fantastic experience that you can’t imagine not experiencing. No matter what the circumstances are, traveling always brings about a sense of thankfulness to the forefront.
7.) There is always, always someone to see and meet.
Sometimes the reason for travel is to see friends and family. Sometimes, you just happen upon meeting some of the best people. I am blessed to have family in eight different states. Hence, the majority of my travels are that much more exciting since I get to see family I don’t get to see often. However, I’ve still continued to meet some pretty fantastic people along the way. In Mexico, I became friends with a former professional soccer player, Adan, whom I still keep in contact with. In Costa Rica, not only did I encounter some of the nicest, most generous and loving natives, but I became friends with five girls from across the United States that I still talk to every single day. In Italy, my family became friends with a couple from London, Bev and Jon, whom of which we had great conversation with about England leaving the European Union. And sometimes, it’s just the people you see on the streets or the waiters/waitresses that serve you that spark a conversation that makes a difference. One of the best parts of traveling is the people you encounter. You may live hundreds or thousands of miles apart, with oceans in between, and nonetheless you could have a lot in common. They may even teach you a thing or two.
8.) There is more to life than your small little hometown.
I think sometimes we forget how small our problems truly are in the grand scheme of things. I’m not saying our problems aren’t important or valid. But I am saying that occasionally we need a little reminder that this world is more than just the city limits in which we grew up in. For some people, they have no desire to leave these city limits, but I’m here to tell you that once you do, you’ll discover there’s much, much more to life than what you’ve ever known. It’s all there for the taking. It’s just your responsibility to grab it.
9.) Memories are made for a lifetime.
If I can make one promise to you, it is this—no matter how far you go, no matter what you see, or who you meet, the food you indulge in, or the culture you immerse yourself into—you will make memories that last you a lifetime. You will continue to tell stories to your family and friends for as long as you live.
And last but not least, 10.) You learn a lot about yourself.
You will learn if you’d rather sight see and explore, or if you’d rather relax by the water for days on end. You’ll learn how much patience you have with traffic jams, customs, or the TSA. You’ll learn what really matters to you in life, how dependent you are on your material possessions, and to what degree you can handle things being different than everything you’re used to. You’ll learn how flexible you are, how confident you are to ask questions, or to speak up to someone you don’t know. You may even learn how responsible and independent you are. Above all, I think by traveling you’ll learn that you are capable of much more than you ever thought possible.
I know that every single trip, small or big, that I have departed on, has left me with a sense of happiness, well-being, and adventure. I’m addicted. And somewhere along the way, you just might get addicted too. Until next time, Bon Voyage.
