Imagine getting an all expense paid trip to your dream destination. Who wouldn’t jump at that opportunity? But put a price tag on your dream trip (and a hefty one at that) and suddenly it doesn’t seem like such a good idea. Money holds so many of us back from doing what our heart desires, but when it comes to travelling I think it’s worth so much more to spend the cash and take the leap.
Travelling may be expensive, but I guarantee that everything you get out of it will be worth so much more than the money you spent to get there.
At age 19, I know I’m incredibly lucky to have gone on the adventures I have. I’ve gone from zip lining over the cloud forests of Costa Rica to snorkeling with giant turtles in Hawaii to playing with baby elephants at a sanctuary in Thailand. I’ll come right out and say that these trips were not cheap. But I would spend twice as much on them as I did to keep the experiences I had.
I wholeheartedly believe that you learn so much more from travelling somewhere new than you ever could in a classroom. There’s no better way to discover beautiful things both outside in the world and inside of yourself. Through my travels I’ve learned all kinds of things, like how to surf, how to say “hello” in Thai, and even which kinds of termites are safe to eat if you ever find yourself lost in a jungle. But I’ve found that some of the most important things I’ve learned are things you could never capture on a camera.
I had the opportunity to experience cultures vastly different from mine and meet so many amazing people. Travelling taught me how lucky I am to have such a good life, and made me realize and appreciate what it really means to be alive. I’ve seen how astoundingly beautiful the world can be, as well as so many of the people who inhabit it.
My big adventures completely changed the course of my life. Without pushing myself to explore the world outside of the bubble I grew up in, I don’t think I ever would’ve realized I my dreams of being a writer. I want to share all the good in the world, and make the bad a little bit better in any way I can.
So, sure, travelling is expensive. But you can’t put a price on a breath-taking sunset or a wonderful new friend or a once in a lifetime experience. Moments like that are priceless.
-Lauryn
Lauryn Starke 