We are all people of the earth and whether you admit it or not, you have a sense of Wanderlust (a strong desire to travel). Seeing the world is not only a fun, memorable experience, but it is educational and life changing.
I have seen a good chuck of the world. Since I turned sixteen I have been to eleven countries. They were an expensive investment in my life, but I am so happy that I have had the opportunity to travel and see the world. We, especially as twenty something’s, need to make traveling a priority if our lives.
Even if you are considering leaving the U.S. invest the time, money and effort into getting a Passport. They are good for ten years, and it is better to have one and have the ability to spontaneously plan to trip to Mexico with your friends than to not have one and be left out. The thought of knowing that I can get on the plane to Italy in the morning, if I wanted to, is so invigorating. The link to Passport info is at the end of this article. <3
So, here are three reasons that you need to make traveling a priority in your life, now, later, or ever.
When you get older, and have more responsibilities, traveling gets harder, and more expensive.
If you want to frolic to Jamaica when you are 35 and you have children, a solid job and a dog. That is a lot of arrangements. We are at an age where we still have breaks. Summer, Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring. Take the natural break in your educated life, to go see all of the places that you learn about in your classes when you are the only person that you have to pay for.
If you’re going to be young and broke, be young and really broke.
Buy the ticket. Don’t think about it, don’t put it off, just click the button and put your name on the ticket. Now. We are resourceful, we will find a way to make the rent payments and it is entirely possible to live off of Ramen. You can’t drop a grand and some change when you have more responsibilities. Be a little reckless with your savings.
Your 20s are the time for soul searching.
We are all trying to discover who we are. I have moments of enlightenment when I am in a foreign country. I gain a grander appreciation for having my family close, for modern medicine, for the diversity in American cuisine. I learn that I have a lot to say, and that I learn more when I sit and watch. Finding yourself when you are lost somewhere new is an opportunity to grow.
I am trying really hard to see the world before I die. I want to head to India soon, and Africa. I have every desire to swim in every ocean and get a passport stamp from at least 25 countries. We need to see the world through the lens of the traveler if we ever hope to see it change. Traveling can change the world, you simply have to let it show you how.
There is no map for finding yourself, you just kind of do it. I hope to see you in the world, it is out there waiting for you.