Some places inspire you… others perhaps not so much. It’s funny how much life can happen in the space of a few days… months… and even a year.
So much can change – some for the better… others not so much. But isn’t that the beauty of this thing we call life? Doing things that make you ask those important questions not many people dare to ask, or searching for answers you didn’t even know you needed? So many times I find myself asking the same question – do I stay in one place and ignore the chance to keep exploring the world or do I pack my bags and just go?
Truth be told, it isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Every time I decide to move to a different city, I go through months of decision making… a constant back and forth… endless hour long conversations with friends and family… scattered lists of pros and cons… and despite what people may say or even advise, it always comes down to one very important question: Will I regret not going on that adventure ten years from now?
Every single time, without fail, my answer is YES.
It’s an indescribable feeling – the thought of looking back at my life years from now and wondering if I should have taken that last minute flight… accepted that job abroad… or stayed another year. It’s an insatiable need of wanting more – more experiences, more opportunities, more growth and more magic. But honestly, how can that ever be a bad thing? The minute you stop feeling, wanting, experiencing, seeing and loving is the minute your soul starts dying. The world is a beautiful place and while society always seems to emphasize the bad, travel has shown me the good.
With some new adventures lined up and a small spark starting to ignite in my soul again, it’s from this place that I thought a new inspirational post was needed. Not just to inspire me but to inspire you too, dear reader, to take that first step and be brave enough to lose sight of the shore and wander the realms of this beautiful Earth, should the opportunity arise. Don’t be afraid to venture off into the unknown and take that first (second, third and even fourth) adventure. Let the magic of travel free your soul and ignite that whimsical wonder so many of us adventurers love to feel.
Should adventures come knocking on your door, here is why it will be good for your soul.
You develop compassion for the world.
Traveling doesn’t just show you things but it allows you to experience the reality of what other people in different countries are going through and may just pull at your heart strings.
You learn independence.
If you never thought you could do things on your own, a solo adventure is a sure fire way to find out. Travelling solo forces you to handle situations you’ve probably never had to in the past.
It’s pretty empowering.
If you’ve never had to survive in a difficult situation before, going on an adventure is the best way to find out just how strong you really are. An adventure is the best way to overcome fears because 1) nobody knows you so it doesn’t matter if you look stupid and 2) you’ll probably never be there again so you might as well YOLO.
You learn how to be resourceful.
Finding ways to communicate when no one around you speaks English or trying a new dish because you’re so hungry and there are just no western restaurants around you will show how resilient and resourceful you can be.
You start to appreciate the small things in life.
It’s easy to get caught up in wanting pretty luxurious things but being on the road shows you just how much you don’t need those things after all. walking in the same pair of sneakers for two weeks may sound gross but when nobody knows you, who cares anyway?
It clears your mind.
There is no better way to put things into perspective that taking an adventure and seeing the world. It reminds you just how small you and any problem you may be facing really is and more importantly, it may just show you that other people, no matter where they are from are probably also going through the same thing as you.