7 Things I’ve Learned from my Travels

I realized that I have to stop thinking of all the “What ifs” and take the chance to explore a new adventure in traveling. – Mia

As I was growing up, I was never enlightened that there is more to look at the outside of the four corners of my room. I have always been scared of what will happen to me if I leave our house for a very long time, scared that I won’t get the chance to live my life to the fullest.

But then one day, I suddenly realized that I am just doing the same thing over and over again. Just go to work, do my job, eat lunch with colleagues, end my shift and then go straight home. Then, I asked myself what is missing in my life? As I was thinking of ways on how to make my boring life exciting, a good friend told me to go out with friends and travel. Then all the “What ifs” flooded in my brain – but then I realized that I have to stop thinking of all the “What ifs” and take the chance to explore a new adventure in traveling.

So this is how travel has changed my life. Traveling taught me not to be scared of exploring things. It taught me that not everything that I hear or see on TV is true. There will always be a place that is worth seeing and appreciated. I became more independent and learned how to control my fears and also became more aware of my surrounding especially if am in a new place. I ate food that I really don’t eat, I cliff dived, I climbed mountain peaks, I usually get lost in a strange place. These are some of the things that I am afraid of, but everything has changed, I now look forward to other unusual things that I can do.

1. I found out that there is nothing to be scared of.

2. I learned how to appreciate different things.

Whenever I visit another place, I make sure that I give time to appreciate different things that this place could offer. The nature, the beaches, the locals, even the markets! For me, it’s not just an ordinary thing, it is something that you can take back home, the memories, the experience and lessons that you get each day from your travels. This worth sharing to everybody!

3. I became more comfortable in meeting new people.

Believe me, I really don’t talk that much but when I started traveling, I eventually became comfortable in talking to other people and expressing myself. When you meet other travelers or local and you exchange stories, you get to learn a lot from their experiences, about their culture and their way of life. With this, I learned how to be more open-minded and just keep everything that I am learning from them. It is such a fulfilling moment for me, knowing that these things can be learned not just in books or in classrooms but also from listening to their own stories.

4. Traveling taught me how to live a life in a simple way

Yes, I was once a shopaholic and I spend all my money buying shoes, clothes, hair products and other stuff that I don’t really need. I just wanted to have new things in my closet. That’s just it! But then everything changed, I have realized that I can definitely go out by just wearing a shirt and shorts with just a pair of flip-flops and I am good to go. I gave up all the fancy stuff and found out that I am really happy even if I don’t get to sleep in a 5 star hotel or even if I have to hop in a crowded bus just to get to my next destination. It actually makes me proud that I can live life in a simple way and be happy with it.

5. Patience is your Best Friend

Not all the time good luck will be on your side, but most of the time patience will be there to stand as your best friend. When you are traveling, there are times that you have to travel for like the whole day in a bus or train and before I even started traveling, I really hate traveling for more than 3 hours. Then it hit me that this is part of my passion, this is what traveling means and I have to be patient about it. Other than that, you also have to be patient when you get stuck in a place and you don’t have any means of transportation as well as when you are talking to other people that cannot understand you especially if you are in a foreign country. I have learned that blending in your surroundings when you are traveling is a big help and it’s pretty cool.

6. Traveling made me found my true love

I never thought that I will eventually meet my true love in one of my travels. But I did. I have always been thinking that I will end up being alone but then everything changed when I met him. We share the same passion in traveling; we exchange thoughts on how we could travel that world and so on. Traveling together made us know each other more, learned from each other every day and it really made us a better couple. So for those who are traveling alone, you might bump into your destiny.

 7. I became more “Grateful”

Being able to travel to different places made me realized how grateful I am. Not everyone had the chance to experience things the way I did. Traveling made me open my eyes to reality, because I have witnessed different lifestyles in different places. Not everyone that I meet has a good life, but then despite of it they still know how to live their life fruitfully.

I am grateful that I was able to see the beauty of life from the people that I meet as well as from the places that I have visited. I cannot exchange my traveling experience for any other things. That’s for sure!

Hi Everyone! My Name is Mia! A corporate junkie in the morning and a freelance writer in the evening! Aside from traveling, I also love the Beach, The Sunset, Dogs and also a Good Laugh!  I look forward to traveling the world and share to everyone my own version of travel moments!

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