one-month reflections

Today marks one month into my full-time world-exploring life!

Some learnings from the past month…

9 times out of 10, a question with a smile will turn a stranger into a new friend. You’ll miss home sometimes, but the right people will make a strange new place feel like home. Trust your gut when something doesn’t feel right, but you’ll find that most people have good intentions. You’ll constantly run into people you met in other cities because the backpacker route is so familiar - and each time it happens, the world feels a little smaller and warmer. The backpacking party scene can be so much fun, but it’s crucial to learn the history and culture beyond that. You’ll get used to the cockroaches running around your feet and unwelcome surprises in your meals. You’ll exist with a constant stomach ache, but there will always be room for coconut ice cream. You won’t see it all, and that’s alright, because lazy days are necessary too.

The world will continue to go on without you, and that will be both heart-wrenching and reassuring. Smiling will come easy when you’re surrounded by the promise of adventure, gorgeous sights and new friends.