Can't Stop Travelling? Neither Can I!

“Ok, I’m just gonna triple check one more time that my passports exactly where I left it in my bag? …Yes

…Ok

…Wait

…Where are my headphones??

…Did I leave them in the bathroom in Section C? Of course, I did…That’s ok, I’ll just grab some of the crappy ones onboard the plane.

…Ok. I don’t want to eat biscuits for the next 3 hours, so I hope I have time to grab something to eat before...”

Now Boarding flight number 219, with service to……

“Sigh.”

I definitely remember how nervous I was the first time I decided to start travelling by myself and explore the world on my own or with friends. Yeah, sometimes I would have some friends or family waiting for me to arrive when I got there, but there was something so different, doing check in, security, or running for a gate when you didn’t have someone there with you. Since that first day of solo travel, at about 18, I haven’t stopped running to catch gates to many different adventures; diving into new cultures, seeing new sites, and meeting new people, many who have become friends. From chilling beach side at amazing resorts in Acapulco, riding all terrain go-karts through a mountain range in Oahu, partying on a rooftop in New York City or just walking the quiet streets of the Orkney Isles, traveling brings out a side of you that you never knew was there.

I chalk it up to a term I heard a while back – Wanderlust.

So why once you start your travelling journey, no matter where you’ve been, the suitcase never gets a chance to get cold before you feel ready to go again? I chalk it up to a term I heard a while back – Wanderlust. It’s kind of that feeling of when you’ve been in so many places, or spent time in amazing cultures, that they start connecting to you in a way that feels…like home. So, by extension you start to feel like you belong everywhere, and that you’re not really settled anywhere. You’re not really sure what feels like home anymore but in this context I’m not sure that’s really a bad thing. Don’t get me wrong, you’re always going to have a special connection to the place where you were born or where you were raised, however all these new memories start to take up a place in your mind that they make these destinations feel like their apart of your personal culture. The little pieces start to take shape in small parts of your identity, through experience.

And when my miles started to rack up, I also felt that travel experience started to help me grow as an individual and even shaped some of the paths that I’m now on.

Now I know what you’re probably saying, “How could you connect so deeply to a place when you were just a tourist?” Well there’s a big difference between a tourist and a traveler. If you just want to get away from your job, go grab buffet food, sleep in a hotel till 3 and take lit Instagram pictures (#CatchFlightsNotFeelings) (ok I’m kinda guilty of that last one) then you’re probably just a tourist. Who doesn’t need a getaway? However, when you start really connecting with the destination in a way that almost feel native, that’s when you can consider yourself a traveler. And when my miles started to rack up, I also felt that travel experience started to help me grow as an individual and even shaped some of the paths that I’m now on. Whether they be future travel plans, career goals, or personal adventures, I feel like I just need to explore. You can always fly back to where you’re from, but you never return the same, and this new version of you is always ready to book a flight.

This is the first time in a long time where I wasn’t searching all over the internet for the crazy flight times…

2020 brought about a different change in the life of someone that needs travel. Not only were we stuck in place for months on end, anyone with wanderlust had to kind of cauterize their ambition in order to stay safe. This is the first time in a long time where I wasn’t searching all over the internet for the crazy flight times or making plans with friends to meet up in an amazing city somewhere on the globe. Luckily, I was able to take a trip over to Hawaii in February, before all the COVID-craziness started taking over, (don’t worry guys, I came back fine) but anyone with wanderlust knows, it’s only a matter of time before we start all the workarounds that allow us to keep exploring our global community. So just like many of you, I’m excited to start travelling again soon! I can’t wait to start storing more memories and along the way I’ll share my experiences both old and new, grabbing the best tips, tricks and logging amazing spots for all of you.

So, make sure your passports + visas are up to date, exchange some money if you can, and grab an oversize hoodie, cause we soon outchea!!