The Biggest Lesson Travel’s Taught Me

As we prepare for our adventure without an expiration in three and a half weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about past trips.

I spent the better half of 2.5 years traveling, mostly alone but never really alone. If you’ve traveled you’ll know what I mean, but for those who don’t: I set off on my adventure solo and didn’t have the same companion the whole trip, but in each destination I made friends. Whether it was the shop keeper in India, a few fellow travellers I just happened to meet on a bus (or in a hostel, a restaurant, an airport, walking down the street looking equally as lost and confused as me) or friends I met up with along the way.

I learned so much from travel that it transformed me.

It changed what I want from life.

It allowed me to be more fearless, confident, secure.

It taught me to trust in my abilities to deal with ridiculous, uncomfortable and dangerous situations; from being stabbed to dealing with food poisoning on a bus with no toilet for 36 hours.

I learned how to communicate with people without words.

I learned to ‘trust’ in uncertainty and live in the moment.

I learned to say goodbye way too many times to people I didn’t want to say goodbye to.

I learned a hell of a lot more than I could have ever packed into 2.5 years at university, school or any academic institution.

As I unpack an apartment, filled with possessions I bought to make my time in my hometown, Christchurch, more comfortable, I have realised the biggest lesson travel’s taught me is:

I learned to value experiences over possessions.

I once was a girl who collected expensive handbags, shoes, clothes. I wanted to look my best and I knew that an expensive label showed I was really committed to this cause. I used to spend oodles of money on getting my hair done. There’s nothing wrong with any of this, but for me personally it now feels so shallow.

For the price of a handbag I spent a month volunteering my time in Cambodia, enriching the lives of some of the sweetest kids in the world.

If I’m honest, it’s quite depressing clearing out an an apartment of things I bought: a TV, pots, a jug, blender, juicer, vacuum cleaner, blah blah blah. Those things that you need to buy to be still.

I think about how much money I spent on them all and shudder.

Soon my life will be crammed into a backpack and a small carry on suitcase and I can’t wait.

It’s so liberating having a small amount of things.

Honestly, a lot of people feel like they own their things, but for me – someone who loves the freedom of movement – I have felt like those things I bought have owned me. They have weighed me down.

The other day I listed my camera, my old 5d mark ii, on an online bidding site. It sold within hours and while a part of me was sad to see it go, the rest of me was liberated.

Here’s to living light, to investing in experiences, memories and adventures instead of things and, perhaps most importantly of all, living my dream.

If you’ve traveled, tell me in the comments what the biggest lesson you have learned is. I’d love to hear.