Travel

Why do I choose to travel instead of getting an education and finding a stable job?

Traveling, for me personally, isn’t about seeing new places every 4 days, nor about taking famous pictures for Instagram, and it’s not even always about experiencing new cultures.

More than anything, I travel for myself.

Traveling for me has been about finally having all the time in the world to do what I really want to be doing. Let alone that I had to find out what it even is that I want. The call to movement has led me to some of my greatest realizations and I would’ve never guessed that I’d spend the best times alone on trains – reading, thinking, journaling. Over the last years, moving through the world facilitated my introspection immensely because I finally had time to just listen. I did only what my soul instructed me to do and followed my intuition through the world.

Important to put into perspective here, is that I do not travel for pure pleasure. Life goes on just as it would if I had a home. Being naturally curious, I learn about whatever is on my agenda, which can include teaching myself new languages, reading about feminism, informing myself on my body’s processes, studying all countries and capitals of the world and more. After that, I go for a long walk wherever I am. One of the nicest aspects: I always step out into a different world. Never do I know where the day will take me, as I intuitively drift through streets, take long strolls on beaches and dance through forests.

Naturally, my mood will not be at an all-time high, just because I’m on the road. Sometimes I will immerse myself in the local life, allowing people to teach me their culture and habits, while at other times I do not participate in the bustling life, because I’ve come to love my anonymity too, so I use it well. For once, I feel the liberty to be whoever I want to be, because nobody lays their expectations on me, my face is just one of many in the crowd.

For me, travel has taught me a lot about time too. Slowly I’m figuring out how to actively make time for the things that are important to me. There’s no rush to visit all the main tourist attractions, because my main purpose is just to live. And in life, there will always be times to slow down. To make time to think and write and stay a little longer, because I’m having a beautiful conversation and tomorrow I don’t need to be anywhere, except with me. I can be right here. When traveling isn’t a luxury, but the norm, naturally, you follow your own rhythm. The world teaches you how to move at your own pace.

While the world never stands still, I don’t either, gifting myself a fresh start in every new place, exploring who I am, connecting with new people and cherishing never-seen landscapes. Moving on my own terms has taught me, that anything that feels healthy and peaceful to me is right at that moment. It has been an incredible way of transitioning into adulthood and I can only recommend it to anyone, no matter your age. Stop looking and start finding yourself in the process.