“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”
-Ibn Battuta
Upon the arrival of every new year, I strive to make the most of that coming year. A while back, I made myself the goal of trying to travel somewhere new every year, whether that be within the United States or international. Sadly, I can say that it has already been broken. I once thought it would be easy, but with the hustle and bustle of being a college student and working a part-time job while trying to figure out life and the future, it isn’t too easy to find the time. Plus money happens to be another little issue.
Trying to travel on a budget is a great thing to do, for anyone that is able to, but when you are the type of traveler that wants to try all the expensive experiences that a place has to offer, traveling on a budget can be rather difficult. Don’t get me wrong, there are so many ways that you can save money while traveling.
To me, traveling is all about experiencing what a place has to offer. Whether that be their culture, history, arts or entertainment, food, or sites. Every city and destination is different than the last, don’t forget that.
Traveling is the best creator of memories, whether it be with family or friends. I know when I go somewhere new, I remember every detail for years.
Traveling is a way to teach us many things. We can learn about the world, but most importantly, we learn about ourselves.
We learn that we never really are alone when traveling to a new place, even if you don't have a travel companion. People around the world can generally be very welcoming and friendly.
We learn how to survive away from our everyday comforts. You realize that life can still happen away from your work desk and that sometimes you don't need that fresh morning latte from your local Starbucks.
We learn that the world has so much incredible food out there that we may never have known about if it wasn't for traveling. We get used to our regular meals that we eat day- to-day and forget that out in the unknown parts of the world, there is so much new, amazing dishes.
Most importantly, we learn how to relax and let go of life's daily struggles. Every once in a while, it's okay to put some things on pause and just embark on a new adventure and relax for a minute. Travel is the best time for reflection.
I challenge everyone to jump out of their comfort zone every once in a while and experience this beautiful and crazy world that we are so privileged to be a part of. See what it has to offer and always remember to look at everything with a new sense of wonder and curiosity.
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