29 - Travel

Marcin Gierbisz - Pexels.com

So, this “love” of mine is a bit different from the others, since I, uh…haven’t actually traveled (yet). At least not outside of the United States. I don’t even have a passport (yet). Though, in my defense, I had planned to get one, and subsequently planned to travel to Europe this past summer with it, but uhh…you know...

Make no mistake, though - I have more wanderlust in me than a West Coast hipster-turned-Instagram-influencer who wants nothing more than to live, laugh, and love. Deep inside me is a beanie-wearing, Starbucks-drinking, basic white girl. I’ve made my peace with it.

And while I don’t have firsthand experience with traveling, I know it’s not all glamorous adventures and expertly-curated social media photos. Flight delays, jet lag, culture shock, bad weather, underwhelming sights, and costly, sometimes unexpected expenses can all make for a bad trip. So I’m romanticizing the idea of traveling. I know, like with everything else in life - there’s a potential “suck factor” involved.

That being said, I still think it’s vital for personal growth to venture outside of your comfort zone when and where you can. Going to new places, doing new things, and meeting new people can help expand your cultural palette and give you a newfound appreciation for all the things that make cities/states/countries unique.

Going on an African safari. Scuba diving in the Caribbean. Appreciating the duality of Japanese culture where they merge the architectural and natural beauty of the old world, with the technological advancements of tomorrow. Eating at a French bistro. Admiring the renaissance-era art of Italy. Using Tinder in England (Sorry, I have a thing for the Brits).

I plan to do all those things and more eventually, but I think it’s the thought that counts, at least for now.

When the world reopens, and my finances improve, traveling the world will be at the top of my list of priorities. Being in my early 30s and never having left American soil, I feel like I’m way behind in my personal development. Hopefully soon, I’ll be able to play catch-up.