Leave home. Say goodbye. Chau. Ciao. Adios. Au revoir. Auf Wiedersehen. さようなら. Allow connection in disconnection. Don’t let the grass grow under your feet.
Pack light. Too much baggage slows us down (I tell myself this every time I try and pack my entire closet.) Don’t attempt to protect yourself from every possible risk. What we lose in comfort, we gain in freedom.
Smile often. : ) People are drawn to happiness. You never know when you can turn somebody else’s day around with a simple smile. I like to think happiness is contagious.
Go the distance. Extraordinary things happen when you go far. A limit means the end of one thing, but the beginning of another. Exceed those limits every time.
Take the road Les traveled (see what I did there?) Planning is important, but valuable experiences are often found by deviating from the route.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
Get lost. The fastest way to find yourself is to lose yourself (in the music, the moment,
you own it. You better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.) Sorry, had to. Nobody inspires quite like Eminem.
Ask questions. Find out as much as you possibly can about your surroundings and the people in them. Curiosity keeps us alert and spurs change within us. Use locals and guides as your resource to ask important questions, even if it’s “Can I have more whiskey, please?”
Take pictures. You’ll have many journeys in life. It’s important to remember each one not only through great memories, but great pictures as well. Even if you look really touristy while doing it. At least the background is pretty.
Can’t stop won’t stop don’t stop. Why is it that most of these bullet points remind me of a song? Cue Miley Cyrus. Movement keeps us going and allows new experiences, whether that’s dancing with Molly or doing whatever we want. We can’t stop. And we won’t stop.
Stop. That’s right. I just contradicted myself. Stopping is just as important as moving. Stop and smell the roses. Take a nap in a field. Read a book in the sand. There’s a reason Savasana is my favorite yoga pose.
Talk to people. Get to know the locals. Listen to their stories. Share ideas and beliefs. You never know what could come out of the relationship.
Walk. Take one step at a time. Look closer at the things around you.
Eat local and eat well. Try new flavors. They just might surprise you. And if you don’t like a good empanada, I don’t trust you.
Say ‘yes’ more. A night out with new friends? Why not. A dip in a freezing cold lake? Sure.
Enjoy the journey. Appreciate where you are in your journey, even if it’s not where you want to be. Every season has a purpose.
Love your photos (and your travels of course)! Very inspiring. Do you have any tips for using your DSLR? Do you shoot in manual or another setting?
Thanks Lindsey! I shoot on various settings, but I usually stick with aperture mode. I like to try out various modes just because when it comes to photography, it’s all about trying different thing to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t. Also, remember that you aren’t using film. You have a memory card, so take as many pictures as you want to find out what you like.
I absolutely love reading your blog posts, especially because of your interest in South America. Just curious how long it took you to learn Spanish? I am currently studying and trying to learn this beautiful language. I know everyone is different, but any advice?
Hi Sydney – I’m still learning every day! I’ve been studying the language since I was in the 6th grade, but it takes actually immersing yourself, patience, and lots of practice to really learn it. I’ve been in Buenos Aires for a year, and I’m still studying. I actually had a Spanish class today 🙂 Good luck!
Thanks so much Lesley! I spent a couple months in Bolivia this past summer and probably wouldn’t have come home if I didn’t have school! Everyone thought I would be somewhat fluent when I came home (not even close), so it is great to hear that it is a process that takes some time and dedication. So much to learn! Argentina sounds wonderful! Wow. I look forward to reading more about your travel adventures. All the best to you 🙂
Hi Lesley! Your blog is so inspiring and motivating – quite honestly, I’m ready to pack my bags and travel the world solely because of your photos and posts! Your travels and experiences are absolutely breathtaking and literally mind-boggling. Are you working abroad? If so, what are you doing? I’d love to hear any advice you have on moving to a different country and finding ways to fund the extravagant lifestyle (while traveling frequently). Thanks!
Kari – So happy you find it inspiring. In answer to your question: After a year of managing a marketing team for a Buenos Aires company, I decided it was time to do what I had wanted to do for a long time. I quit my job and started designing this website. I’m fortunate to partner with hotels and airlines, so that makes traveling more manageable. The cost of living in Argentina is also very low. Everyone’s path is different, but I’d suggest researching travel-related jobs whether it be in hotels, airlines or travel PR and perhaps that will lead into something. Another great avenue is teaching English. There are lots of opportunities out there. I hope that helps!