So you want to travel the world, huh...? Have a sense of adventure, an interest in the unknown, a desire to break out of the ‘bubble’ and explore the far-flung corners of the globe? Excited by the idea of climbing a sacred mountain, visiting a deserted beach, eating exotic foods, and interacting with people from foreign cultures? Maybe you’re a college student about to set off on a study-abroad experience, and want to do some traveling while you’re overseas. Maybe you’ve just graduated, and want to take some time to have a look around before submitting to ‘The Grind’. Maybe you’ve been hard at work for awhile, and are looking for a way to break from the monotonous routine your life has somehow become. Whatever the case may be, you have come to the right place. That life-changing semester in Rome? That eye-opening 3-month trip to Australia? That soul-saving getaway to Southeast Asia? You CAN do it. You CAN go there. We at BPU are here to tell you that it IS possible, that you are NOT crazy for considering what many others might call ‘insane’, and that really, traveling the world is a lot EASIER than you might think. All it takes is the courage to say ‘YES. I AM doing it’. A little bit of planning on the front end, the intestinal fortitude to take ‘The Plunge’, and the willingness to seize the opportunity and pursue your dreams of travel, regardless of what others might say. Trust us- it is worth it. For those of us ‘cursed‘ (blessed?) with the Travel Bug, there is nothing quite as exciting as setting off on an adventure into the unknown, of embarking on a journey whose course and consequence remain untold until those life-changing moments of experience and discovery. Your heart pounds in your chest; you live in a constant state of anticipation; You flip through the blank pages of your future, waiting to be filled with snapshots and stories of new places, new people, and new experiences. It’s a rush unlike any other- believe me...
Now, I know what you may be thinking right now- something along the lines of “I can’t travel the world- I don’t (Insert excuse here).” “I don’t have enough time.” “I don’t know where to begin.” “Don’t want to take the risk of leaving my current life.” Or perhaps the biggie- “I don’t have enough money.” HA! Having traveled the world for over 7 years (And counting...), we scoff at such excuses (Mainly because that is EXACTLY what they are- excuses). If you’ve got a desire to leave the ‘norms’ of society behind and set out on an incredible, life-changing adventure, you can’t let yourself succumb to such lines of thinking. Traveling requires you to be bold; to be braver than you normally would. To begin with, you have to be courageous enough to chase your dreams without caring what others may think or say. You have to be true to yourself- true to what you want YOUR future to be. As a wise co-worker told me when I was first considering leaving my job to travel the world- years later in life, you will never look back and regret the choice to go- to leave your ‘normal’ behind, to go and chase your dreams. All of the experiences and the memories, the friends and the stories- you’ll have those forever. On the other hand, if you DON’T go, you will ALWAYS have to deal with the unspoken questions of “What if...?” “What if I had gone? Who would I be? How would my life have changed? What amazing places would I have gone? Who might I have met along the way?” I don’t know about you, but for me, that is WAY too much "What if?" to deal with in the long run. I never want to be the guy, years later in life, sitting and staring at a globe, saying “Why didn’t I go when I had the chance? What if I had gone? What would my life be like?” No way. Not me. God knows I’ll never be asking myself “Why didn’t I stay at my job? Why did I leave it all behind to go and travel the world?“ That’s ridiculous. In the end, the negative consequences of deciding NOT to go FAR outweighed those of actually going, and that alone was enough to push me over the edge and into my new life as a globetrekker. Honestly, it is different for each individual, but, that is what it comes down to- to borrow from Shakespeare, ‘To go, or not to go- that is the question...’ Only YOU can make that decision, but let me say this- if you’ve come this far already, it's almost too late to turn back...
Taking in the scenery along the Inca Trail- Peru
As you might have guessed, you’ll find yourself on an EXTREMELY slippery slope if and when you start going down this road. Your brain will begin to work overtime, but not on the stuff it should be working overtime on- you’ll start coming up with ideas and itineraries, and somehow they’ll all start to fit together like pieces of a puzzle; you’ll find yourself checking travel websites every day for deals on tickets to the far-flung reaches of the globe; you’ll become all-too familiar with towns and cities in countries you didn’t even know existed, much less where they are on a map; the money in your bank account and on your paychecks will magically morph itself into the activities you’re dreaming of spending it on abroad (When I left the US for New Zealand in 2007, I was actually referring to the cost of things in terms of ‘bungee jumps’- true story...). You’ll get all excited with the thoughts of adventure, the challenge of planning it all out, the realization that you can literally go ANYWHERE- and before you know it, you’ve planned a trip around the world. It gets serious FAST, and if you’re not ready to commit to it, not ready to take the plunge when the make-it-or-break-it day comes, you’re setting yourself up for some major disappointment and life-long regret. I don’t think I’m overstating that, either. If I hadn’t taken the chance when I had the opportunity, I can honestly say that I would’ve regretted it for the rest of my life. So, just keep that in mind when your brain starts spinning at a million miles an hour...
Finally, if you are even considering taking some sort of extended trip, chances are that you are at a very unique point in your life- unique in that you find yourself with an amazing, almost overwhelming amount of freedom- the ability to chase your dreams without anything holding you back. You have to realize that this is potentially one of those ‘once-in-a-lifetime’-type opportunities- if you pass on it now, it may never come around again. Right now, everything is in your favor- if you’re anything like I was when I first set out, you’re young; you have a sense of adventure and an interest in the unknown; maybe you’ve got a little coin in the bank; you probably don’t have a mortgage or a family... In essence, you have nothing standing in your way. At this point in your life, it’s all up to you, and honestly, that is a moment that very few people are fortunate enough to come across in their lives, and even fewer have the guts to take advantage of. That is what makes it so exciting… You've got one chance to make it happen, the question is, will you take that chance? Will you step out of your comfort zone and embrace the opportunity? Your life is YOUR story- what do you want your future to be?
Pondering life, high atop Table Mountain- Cape Town, South Africa
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