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| Imagine what could happen if you were to travel. Surely, beauty would emerge. Photo by Charish Badzinski. |
When they hear of my travels, particularly my solo adventures, so many people say, “Oh, I could never do that.” When I press, most often people seem uncomfortable considering the possibility, though few will admit they’re just plain scared.
Fear keeps so many people from doing what they want to do. Just this week a coworker, upon contemplating the death of a 40-something acquaintance, remarked that if she knew she was dying in five years, she would do things differently. Travel was at the top of that list.
So, if it’s fear that is holding us back, perhaps it’s fear that should also motivate us. Fear that these are the last days of our lives, which–in truth–they are. There is so much world to see. Why, on earth, would you let fear get in the way of seeing it, if that’s your dream?
So what if you don’t know the language! So what if you don’t like the food. Big deal! What’s the worst that could happen?
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| Santorini, Greece. Don’t worry. You will love the food. Photo by Charish Badzinski. |
I’ve known people who couldn’t access their bank accounts from abroad. I’ve known people who’ve walked into new cities without a place to stay for the night, as dark was descending. I’ve known people who’ve lost things they thought they couldn’t live without, even their passport. People who’ve missed trains. Been threatened with arrest. Got food poisoning. Suffered injury in a motorbike accident. Lost reservations. Lost their way. And I’ve known people who haven’t had a penny on them, and didn’t know where their next meal was coming from while they were on the road.
Without exception, every single one of them survived, and has a helluva story to share about it.
And perhaps, to put it all in perspective, I should mention that most of these incidents happened to me.
If fear is the main element standing between you and your travel dreams, swallow it down and put on the big girl panties. And book yourself a ticket.
Because every time you ignore that fear that bubbles up within, you live a little more of this beautiful, and all too brief life. You expand. You learn. You grow. And you overcome.
When have you overcome a travel-related fear? Or, what’s the worst that’s happened to you while traveling, and how did it help you grow?
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