EDIT: I have no idea why the background/font color is being all weird. So I apologize for that.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” Dr. Suess
I would be perfectly okay in life if I could travel the world, experience different cultures, and write about what was happening. Since that is not possible (at least not at the moment due to school), I'll settle for writing about the world from what I'm sure will continue to be coffee shops in mainly North Portland or Bellingham.
The first question is why travel? Why bother? As said in the movie The Truman Show, everywhere is discovered - why explore anymore? (Yes. I did just reference that movie. Judge away if you please. And it was like, a tiny little fucking part man. So if you don't get it, don't worry. I'm just weird.)
One argument to be made (and the one I will focus on for this post) is that while many things have indeed been discovered, travelling allows you to explore and find yourself.
Travelling opens you to so many possibilities to so many cultures, and most importantly, to so many ways of living and thinking. The experiences open YOU to endless possibilities of who you are and who you can become. Travelling helps people to understand the thoughts and beliefs of the "other", the "them" in us versus them.
Yes, while travelling, you will miss things at home. Life wherever you call home will continue on while you're gone. There will be birthdays had, parties celebrated, deaths mourned while you're away. And that could stop you in your tracks; why miss something if you have the chance to decide?
If you're given the chance, go and travel. You will miss events, friends, and family at home but that isn't going to take away from your experiences. You'll meet incredible people while around a fire under a billion stars in Masai Mara. You'll see cities that are centuries old and have seen war. You'll understand the world, and yourself, just a little better.
And once you've finished the journey, you'll come back a new person, changed for the better.
Until next time,
xoxo
