I’m always interested in why someone does something, so I thought adding more history about me might make sense. Looking back to my lifelong love of travel, it seems strange that I knew not a soul who had traveled out of the United States, other than the small group of girls from my high school trip. I have no idea where my wanderlust came from, but I suspect you have it also, since you’re reading this.
I don’t even remember how I decided that I wanted to backpack throughout Europe, but after failing to convince my college friends to join me, I seized an opportunity. I eavesdropped on a conversation between two girls I didn’t know. Never shy, I interrupted politely, introduced myself, and asked about the trip they were planning. Somehow, I invited myself on this trip between best friends, and Sarah and Renée immediately accepted me. I know I should stop listening to private conversations, but being nosy gave me courage to jump at six weeks of blissful chaos. To this day, it remains the travel experience I compare everything to.
More history… I graduated from college, started working, and participating in life. I experienced job success, embarked on a second career, raised a family, and survived major health issues. Through it all, I fantasized, planned and ventured into travel. A journey somewhere new never failed to lift my mood. It has exaggerated happy times, and just the idea of it has saved me during the challenging ones.
I leave zip-lining, bungee jumping, and parasailing to those who commit braver acts than I did. I don’t intend to take a second helicopter ride. Those of you who thrive on these physical activities, truly amaze me, but I hope to inspire you with my own cerebral idea of adventure. I’m terrified of heights, but am perfectly happy to be plopped down into a country where I don’t speak the language. My favorite perspective is thinking how great it is to be in places where, “you don’t know the drill.” https://www.arcadia.edu/student-life/meet-our-students/jj-demetrius-26/how-traveling-helped-my-mental-health/