“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

This is my absolute favorite quote about traveling because it captures the essence and importance of travel in one simple sentence. Though many people want to travel to get away from their job and their monotonous daily routines to relax for a while, I believe the whole purpose of traveling is to experience the world. Of course a good vacation can be fantastic when you need it, but experiences are really what I want to get out of traveling to new places. I want to experience new cultures, new food, new lifestyles, and new people. I love the feeling of infinite possibility that it brings. You can do anything you want and you never know where the day will take you.

To participate in or even just observe a different way of living can really open your eyes to so much. You’ll realize how little you actually knew about the world, you’ll appreciate your home more, you’ll gain (or expand) your ability for compassion and empathy, and you’ll experience the interconnectedness of humanity. This state of awareness is a jump in consciousness. The way we perceive the world, the way we experience life and ourselves, that all incurs positive change through travel. It really broadens your horizons and lets your mind expand itself in ways you never thought it could (or would!), which ultimately can help you rediscover yourself and your purpose in life. Trying to understand someone else and their way of life helps you find out who you really are. Taking small leaps every so often and consistently pushing yourself to broaden your experiences opens your mind to things you could have never dreamed of before. You become a storyteller. And it certainly offers you the opportunity to engage with novelty. To push yourself, at times, to your limits so you can grow in your abilities to connect and communicate.

Not only do I find traveling good for the soul, but doing it with friends can make it that much better!

To say the least, I love traveling. I LOVE IT! I want to travel the world one day and I’m beginning my journey now, when I’m young. I have my whole life ahead of me to keep learning, searching, and growing.

So if you’re one of those people saying, “I’ll go when I get the money”, or “I want to wait for this one friend to go with me”, or anything else stopping you from seeing the world, stop it. Don’t wait. Start packing your bags and go! There are always cheap options out there to book a flight or to find a place to stay (Unless you want to live in complete luxury, then you better be ready to drop stacks!). I can’t wait to go on my next adventure and see more of the world!

Life is God’s gift to us, and as we travel and experience more, we often become overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation for all the beautiful moments we enjoyed and the people we’ve shared them with. In old age, I don’t want to say, “I wish I had done this.. or gone here…”. I want to say, “I’m so glad I did that when I was younger.” No regrets! So live, love, and travel!

Outfit Details

Red Swimsuit Top: Nastygal

White Swimsuit Bottoms: H&M

White Shorts: Thrift Store

 Grey Crop Top: Brandy Melville

Flip Flops: Aldo

xoxo, Arielle