Why you should take the trip of your life now

The past three weeks my life has turned 180 degrees. My beautiful little apartment in Amsterdam with white walls and a brand new kitchen has been exchanged for fourteen different small hostel rooms. That overflowing wardrobe that was completely out of order is now a backpack that is so organized that I can never lose anything again. And my bike is safely locked away in my brother's garage, while I am now on the road with sleeper buses and scooters. Yes, I have given up my familiar life to travel for three months through the warm, cultural, and incredibly beautiful madness called Asia. On day 20 of the 89, I can already say that I will come home as a different person. The experiences and life lessons I will gain here can never be taken away from me. And that is why I recommend everyone to take a trip at least once in their life that changes you.

And such a trip doesn't have to last three months. It can be shorter, it can be longer. As long as you step out of your comfort zone. For example, go on vacation alone once. Or to a country you have never been to before. Do you have a fear of heights? Then go bungee jumping. You can think of the craziest things, but do it. Because you will learn a lot from it. No one is going to help you take that step. It has to come from yourself. So I will help you on your way by giving you the most important reasons to do it.

1. You get to know yourself better

If you sit for ten hours on a bus, train, or plane without wifi or other people around you, you have no one else but yourself. Listen to some music and take a critical look at your life at home. Is everything exactly how you want it? Are you happy? What do you miss the most? And what do you miss the least? When you take some distance from your daily life, you often find things you would like to change. And then think about how you can best tackle that.

2. You gain a different perspective

Your daily life often falls into a rut. You have the same job, have had the same friends for years, go to the same bar, the same gym, take the same route to work, wear the same clothes, serve the same dishes at the table... And the list goes on. While traveling, you meet new people. You eat differently. You sleep differently. You learn about other cultures or religions. It broadens your knowledge and maybe even changes your own rhythm.

3. You always have a good story

Awkward silences? What are those? From now on, you always have a strong story ready. One for every conversation. ‘Are you having chicken tonight? They are incredibly fast and hard to catch. How do I know that? Oh, I once caught one on a farm in the heart of Vietnam.’ Boom! Conversation starter. And true story by the way.

4. You learn your limits

The lady who used to be a vegetarian is now running like crazy after a chicken? And eats meat on a stick that complete strangers bring onto the bus because it's lunchtime and they are hungry? Yes, I never thought I would do that either. And yet I do. I have made the commitment to step out of my comfort zone in some way every day. I manage quite well because everything is so different. And it gives me confidence when I do something I would never have dared to do before.

 
So ladies, take a risk with the summer vacation approaching. Do something crazy and broaden your horizon! Bet you won't regret it?

Written by: Danique van Leeuwenstijn