I suppose the title is a little misleading. I don’t travel at all. But I sure wish I did. Unfortunately, I’m a college student with no money left over to use as travel expenses. I find myself wishing I could go to various places around the country or out of the country. I also find myself jealous of my best friend for doing just that. She ventures out just about every summer and sees the world as well as inspires and helps every person she meets. Traveling has made her special. She sees things in many different ways. She’s the person I wish I could be. That person who’s appreciative of all things because she’s seen all variations of life.

Traveling is something that I haven’t researched. I’ve only ever considered it to be something that people with a lot of money get to do or people who has nothing to lose do. I’ve recently learned that’s not the case. Traveling can be taking a drive into an area of your town you’ve never been to or to a city about an hour away. Your destination doesn’t have to be a 1000 miles away. Nor do you need to purchase a plane ticket to do it.

There is something about being outdoors. Fresh air is only the beginning of being able to travel around and be free. Everyone has a different definition of the word free. To me, free is being able to stop thinking about every little thing going on in your life and just exist in the world by yourself. Well, you’re not by yourself, but in that moment, it’s only you. There is no greater feeling than letting go and not being part of the society for a while.

Traveling allows a person to find who they really are. You’re allowed the time to think and have no distractions. Travel down to the river. If you live in a small town like I do, you have a boat ramp you can go to. Go there and sit. Breathe in the air and take in the surroundings. Let yourself lay on the ground and let your eyes close. Don’t think about anything related to your life back at home. I guarantee that you will walk away with at least one problem that you had solved.

I wish I traveled more so that I could solve all of life’s mysteries. There is no time left to worry about everything going on in the world. The time we have here is precious time. We have time to love and to be loved, to create, to learn, to prosper, and to exist. We need to make that time worthy of living by wandering and appreciating all that we have. Travel instead of pacing a room trying to figure out how to pay the rent. Breathe in the scent of trees to form a plan to never have to ask where a dollar is coming from.

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