When the whirlwind of adventure comes to an end and the dust settles, I’m often left with a new sense of clarity I hadn’t had before my travels. It’s something we hear a lot these days; travel changes you, it leaves you a little different than when you first arrived.
What is it about travel that leaves it’s mark on us, and shines light to things we hadn’t seen before? I’ve written a list of the lessons I’ve learned along my travels that I’ve taken home with me after each trip.
MOMENTS ARE WORTH MORE THAN THINGS, ALWAYS
This is by far one of the most important lessons I’ve learned. When I look back on my best memories, I’m never taken back to the countless things I bought in the moment. The cute sandals or lovely dress I bought while on a trip. It’s the nights spent camping with friends, days passed meeting people close to home while thousands of miles from it. The moments shared with strangers,
YOU ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE
You will have haters. There will be those who don’t support you, and there will be those that simply don’t like you. And that’s completely okay. What matters is how we deal with knowing that we are not for everyone. I’ve always had this desire to please those around me, but I’ve come to realize the stress is never worth it. Find what makes you happy, and pursue that passion without looking back.
YOU’RE CAPABLE OF MORE THAN YOU THINK
There’s nothing like getting lost in a city thousands of miles from home where you don’t speak the language to help you truly realize what you’re capable of. When you travel, you’re solely responsible for yourself. There’s no one else to blame when something goes wrong. I’ve always learned so much about what I can do, and how far beyond my comfort zone I can reach when I travel.
TRAVEL LEAVES IT’S MARK
No matter where you go, travel will leave it’s mark on you. Comfort zones and travel go hand in hand. You can stay nestled where you feel comfortable and still have a lovely trip. But, there’s something different that happens when you tread outside of your comfort zone. You start to have new, frightening yet exciting experiences that have the ability to transform you.
