On: Seeing The World

“I haven’t been everywhere but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag

(Below is my interactive travel map of just about every city and/or landmark I've visited. If you have any questions or are looking for travel advice please let me know! I'm also always looking to plan my next trip and would love destination suggestions!) 

“We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again- to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.” ― Pico Iyer

I have been fortunate to explore many countries, cities, cultures and landmarks. I wouldn't be who I am today without these adventurous learning experiences. Travel adventures are the most enriching and rewarding experiences that can teach you more than any college course. 

My goal in life is to see the world. I never want to stop learning about new cultures, being immersed in their history and educating myself via personal experience. I would rather see a city once than read about it a thousand times. 

Every year my goal is to explore one place that I have never been before; because, as Helen Keller worded it, "life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all". If you are in a rut, living the same year 75 times in a row, how do you call that a life? A life without traveling is like reading the same page of a book over and over again without turning the page to discover the next chapter. There is so much to discover in our world it would be a shame to not even skim the surface.

I don't want to ever say, I wish I would have traveled more. "Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer". In addition it provides you with a sense of modesty that can't be taught. Traveling has taught me a sense of humility and patience. I'm far from perfect, but I will say that through my travels I have lost harbored stereotypes, many of my prejudices have been discarded, and I have learned to have patience with people from various backgrounds. I would rather spend my money to have these invaluable life experiences that have allowed me to discover myself verses purchasing a material possession. 

Imagine what the world would be like if everyone traveled out of their comfort zone and and let go of fearing the unknown. I think our world would become a more accepting place. As Shirley Maclaine said, "The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends". 

I challenge you to travel the world, to lose yourself, then to find yourself. I challenge you to learn more about the world than the front page of the newspaper will report or than the Skimm will list. Travel to share your knowledge, but also to listen to others - never forget to listen, comprehend, and ask questions. Finally, I challenge you to be forever young - never lose your sense of wonder for the world.