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Tambayan ng mga Chicx at Tsonx => General Discussion => Travel and Leisure => Topic started by: arthas™ on December 01, 2013, 11:57:45 PM
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The other night, I had a conversation with a young lady who had a number of decisions ahead of her, which included whether she should go to grad school or travel the world.
I told her to travel. Hands down. No excuses. Just go. The results are worth the costs.
And she sighed.
(http://goinswriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/travel-young.jpg)
“Yeah, but…”
Never were more fatal words spoken:
- Yeah, but… what about debt?
- Yeah, but… what about my job?
- Yeah, but… what about my boyfriend (or dog or car or whatever)?
“Yeah, but…” is pernicious. Because it makes it sound like we have the best of intentions when really we are just too scared to do what we should. It allows us to be cowards, while sounding noble.
Most people I know who waited to travel the world never did. Conversely, plenty of people who waited for grad school or a steady job and traveled still did those things — eventually.
Be careful of the yeah-but. The yeah-but will kill your dreams.
I was so stirred by this conversation that I shared it with a group of 30 young adults last night, many who were asking these very same questions.
The life you’ve always wanted
When you get older, life seems to just sort of happen to you. Your youth is a time of total empowerment. You get to do what you want.
But as you mature and gain new responsibilities, you have to be very intentional about making sure you don’t lose sight of what’s important.
So if you still have a reasonable amount of control over your circumstances, you should do what really matters. Because life won’t always be just about you.
During early adulthood, your worldview is still being formed. It’s important to steward this time — to give yourself opportunities to grow. A good way to do that is to travel.
So, young person, travel. Travel wide and far. Travel boldly. Travel with full abandon.
You will regret few risks you take when it comes to this. I promise you that. There are three reasons to travel while you’re young:
1. Traveling teaches you to live an adventure
When you look back on your life, you will have moments of which you are proud and maybe a few you regret. It’s likely that the following won’t be on the latter list:
- Bicycled across the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Appeared on Italian TV.
- Hiked a Mayan ruin.
- Learned Spanish in three months.
- Toured Europe by train.
They’re not on mine (fun fact: I’ve done all of the above). So what, then, will be? What choices will you regret making? Holding back. Being afraid. Making excuses. Not taking more risks. Waiting.
While you’re young, you should travel.
You should take the time to see the world and taste the fullness of life. It’s worth whatever investment or money or sacrifice of time that may be required on your part.
This is not about being a tourist. It’s about experiencing true risk and adventure so you don’t have to live in fear for the rest of your life.
2. Traveling helps you encounter compassion
In your youth, you will make choices that will define you. The disciplines you begin now will be with you for the rest of your life.
Traveling will change you like little else can. It will put you in places that will force you to care for issues that are bigger than you.
If you go to southeast Asia, you may encounter the slave trade. If eastern Europe, you may see the effects of genocide and religious persecution. If Haiti, you’ll witness the the ugly side Western paternalism.
Your heart will break.
You will begin to understand that the world is both a big and small place. You will have a new-found respect for the pain and suffering that over half of the world takes for granted on a daily basis.
And you will feel more connected to your fellow human beings in a deep and lasting way. You will learn to care.
3. Traveling allows you to get some culture
While you’re still young, you should get cultured. Get to know the world and the magnificent people that fill it. There’s nothing quite like walking alongside the Colosseum or seeing Michelangelo’s David in person.
I can describe the city of San Juan and its amazing beaches and historic sites to you, but you really have to see it for yourself to experience it. You can read all the books in the world about the Great Wall of China or The Louvre, but being there is a different story.
The world is a stunning place, full of outstanding works of art. See it.
Do this while you’re still young. Do not squander the time. You may never have it again.
You have a crucial opportunity to invest in the next season of your life now. Whatever you sow, you will eventually reap. Please. For your sake, do this. Because you won’t always be young. And life won’t always be just about you.
So travel. Experience the world for all it’s worth. Become a person of culture, adventure, and compassion.
“What if I’m not young?”
Travel, anyway. It may not be easy to do, but find a way to get out of your comfort zone. It’s really never too late.
But if you haven’t gotten sucked into the routine of life yet, I implore you — travel. It will never be easier than it is right now for you to do that which really matters.
credit from source (http://goinswriter.com/travel-young/)
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nice article TS..~ mag tratravel din ako kahit sa malapit lang muna hehehe small steps kung baga.. XD
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sooo true!!! i got to realize this only after getting to know a couple while on a trip, they´re americans and we know how americans work so hard na minsan they do not only maintain just one job...accdg. to them they worked so hard all their lives for their dream cruise after retirement, but when they did- they just regret it because walking uphill to stroll the narrow alleys of greece and italy were not anymore so easy for them. There were even times that they just have to stay aboard kasi masasakit na nga mga tuhod nila....
for the meantime i had to let go of this luxury because of a different goal, but hoping very much to do this again so soon...
i´m just a city-tripper but hoping for a nice try of adventure bago man lang hindi ko na nga magawa ang mga ito
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Nice topic bro... +karma sa iyo
these are good eye opener sa mga nais talagang magtravel... i mean more people wants to travel but because of many things, they kept on delaying and the time they realized na they really want to travel is when they don't really have the time anymore..... :(
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Salamat sa pagdaan at sa mga karma na aking natanggap. Yeah, namulat din ako sa topic na to. I love to travel, seriously. Should I have enough money, I would love to travel around the world. That is a great experience while you are alive. Being to other places and knowing the differences between cultures. ;D
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yep -definitely travel. pagkagradweyt ko ng college kung saan-saan kami nakarating ng gf ko, now esmi ko. from toronto to sydney and a few places in between! definitely an eye opener.
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i remember nung una akong nakarating sa niagara falls less than 2 y.o. palang yung anak ko. nakita kong masayang-masaya sya pero alam kong di na nya maaalala ito. nagkasya nalang kami sa pagpapakita ng mga pictures sa kanya.
fast forward to 2013, bumalik uli kami sa niagara falls. this time 16 na sya at panigurado maaalala na nya talaga ito. pati yung kapatid nyang bunso we made sure na maaalala nya na rin ito at 5 going 6 years old.
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Travel like there's n tomorrow while you still can. Enjoy and live life to the fullest.
:)
Sent from my LT26ii using Tapatalk
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this is so true, even if i maxed out my card just to travel and be given a chance to experience "no visa required" destinations, early years after college, i'm definitely without regrets going for it, always. even within the country, you'll experience different culture and may be even shocked.