They tell me how, through my shared experiences, they have been inspired to travel. To open up their minds. To take the jump to experience the world and make their dreams of adventure happen.
Every time I hear these things and see people taking on the world and creating their own journey, I am so deeply thankful for the opportunity I had to influence someone else in such a positive and life changing way.
It's one thing to experience something for yourself. It is something entirely different to be a part of the spark that was ignited within someone else to do something so meaningful for their life. It is satisfying in a completely selfless way. I am overwhelmed with happiness just thinking about how their lives will be, or have been, changed - because I've experienced it. I continue to experience what the world has to offer. I know how amazing it is, and the fact people I love are able to feel these feelings and have their own experience MAKES ME HAPPY.
Also, it reminds me of the people who inspired me. I didn't just wake up one day and say to myself, "I'm gonna jump on a plane to Europe alone with no plans and no money for three months before moving to England to study abroad."
I can't pinpoint one person, or one blog, or one shared experience. My desire to travel was accumulated over an extensive "dreaming" period. For the longest time, it was only that. Just a dream. Something I kept saying I wanted to do, with no real plan of action. I feel like this is the case for many people. It is so easy to want things. Practically effortless. It is much harder to actually put yourself out into the world and make things happen, which is really all it takes sometimes.
I am lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing people, friends that motivate me and challenge me. Many of my best friends had experiences traveling that definitely helped me make the push. Christian went wild in Europe before studying abroad. She was the main reason I wanted to participate in the international student teaching program. Jessica, the free spirited love of my life, traveled for a few months in Europe. She will be moving to Thailand soon to look for a job. Morgan studied abroad in France a few years ago. She just recently landed a Au Pair job with an awesome family on an island there. Lillie studied in Germany the summer I was in Europe. We had quite the adventure once she was done, and she ended up going back this summer. Now she's picking up and moving to Hawaii. Lucky girls.
Even though my friends and I are rarely in the same place at the same time, we all share a passion for discovering the world. We understand that about each other. I am thankful, every damn day, to know that regardless of where I am in the world - I have people that I can always reconnect with that have the ability to give me an overwhelming sense of comfort, of "home".
All it takes is the dream. The desire to do something, and the realization that the world is at your fingertips, you just gotta go out there and grab it.
It's not always going happen the way it's supposed to. I was aiming to teach summer camps in Italy before moving to England. Two weeks before I was supposed to leave, that opportunity fell through. But I was determined and willing to let things fall into place, and what I was left with was the best summer of my life. It was filled with unexpected adventures - things that you can't plan into your travel itinerary. Things that aren't outlined in your Lonely Planet travel guide.
So, in conclusion... stop making excuses and go see the world with your own eyes. It's better than any picture you can re-post. Better than any lame blog you can read, telling you to get off your ass :) It's time!
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