3 Reasons to Travel While You’re Young

by Jeff Goins | 1,128 Comments | Twitter, Facebook, Google+

The other night, I had a conversation with a young woman who had a number of decisions ahead of her, one of which was whether she should go to grad school or travel the world. I told her to travel. Hands down. No excuses. Just go. The results are worth the costs.

She sighed.

Photo credit: kokorowa (Creative Commons)

“Yeah, but…”

Never were more fatal words spoken:

Yeah, but… what about debt?
Yeah, but… what about my job?
Yeah, but… what about my boyfriend (or dog or car or whatever)?

“Yeah, but…” is pernicious. Because it makes it sound like we have the best of intentions when really we are just too scared to do what we should. It allows us to be cowards, while sounding noble.

Most people I know who waited to travel the world never did. Conversely, plenty of people who waited for grad school or a steady job and traveled still did those things — eventually. Be careful of the yeah-but. The yeah-but will kill your dreams. [Tweet that]

I was so stirred by this conversation that I shared it with a group of 30 young adults last night, many who were asking these very same questions.

The life you’ve always wanted

When you get older, life seems to just sort of happen to you. Your youth is a time of total empowerment. You get to do what you want.

But as you mature and gain new responsibilities, you have to be very intentional about making sure you don’t lose sight of what’s important.

So if you still have a reasonable amount of control over your circumstances, you should do what really matters. Because life won’t always be just about you.

During early adulthood, your worldview is still being formed. It’s important to steward this time — to give yourself opportunities to grow. A good way to do that is to travel.

So, young person, travel. Travel wide and far. Travel boldly. Travel with full abandon.

You will regret few risks you take when it comes to this. I promise you that. There are three reasons to travel while you’re young:

1. Traveling teaches you to live an adventure

When you look back on your life, you will have moments of which you are proud and maybe a few you regret. It’s likely that the following won’t be on the latter list:

Bicycled across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Appeared on Italian TV.
Hiked a Mayan ruin.
Learned Spanish in three months.
Toured Europe by train.

They’re not on mine (fun fact: I’ve done all of the above). So what, then, will be? What choices will you regret making? Holding back. Being afraid. Making excuses. Not taking more risks. Waiting.

While you’re young, you should travel. You should take the time to see the world and taste the fullness of life. It’s worth whatever investment or money or sacrifice of time that may be required on your part.

This is not about being a tourist. It’s about experiencing true risk and adventure so you don’t have to live in fear for the rest of your life.

2. Traveling helps you encounter compassion

In your youth, you will make choices that will define you. The disciplines you begin now will be with you for the rest of your life.

Traveling will change you like little else can. It will put you in places that will force you to care for issues that are bigger than you.

If you go to southeast Asia, you may encounter the slave trade. If eastern Europe, you may see the effects of genocide and religious persecution. If Haiti, you’ll witness the the ugly side Western paternalism.

Your heart will break.

You will begin to understand that the world is both a big and small place. You will have a new-found respect for the pain and suffering that over half of the world takes for granted on a daily basis.

And you will feel more connected to your fellow human beings in a deep and lasting way. You will learn to care.

3. Traveling allows you to get some culture

While you’re still young, you should get cultured. Get to know the world and the magnificent people that fill it. There’s nothing quite like walking alongside the Colosseum or seeing Michelangelo’s David in person.

I can describe the city of San Juan and its amazing beaches and historic sites to you, but you really have to see it for yourself to experience it. You can read all the books in the world about the Great Wall of China or The Louvre, but being there is a different story.

The world is a stunning place, full of outstanding works of art. See it. Do this while you’re still young. Do not squander the time. You will never have it again.

You have a crucial opportunity to invest in the next season of your life now. Whatever you sow, you will eventually reap. Please. For your sake, do this. Because you won’t always be young. And life won’t always be just about you.

So travel. Experience the world for all it’s worth. Become a person of culture, adventure, and compassion.

“What if I’m not young?”

Travel, anyway. It may not be easy to do, but find a way to get out of your comfort zone. It’s really never too late.

But if you haven’t gotten sucked into the routine of life yet, I implore you — travel. It will never be easier than it is right now for you to do that which really matters.

Have you seen what the world has to offer and how it can change you? Join the discussion in the comments.

If this post resonates with you, you might enjoy my book, WRECKED, which is all about living in the tension between adventure and commitment. Check it out on Amazon. Or join my email list for more free updates like this.

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About the Author

Jeff Goins

Writer, idea guy, difference-maker. I help people tell better stories and make a difference in the world. My family and I reside just outside of Nashville, TN. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Google Plus.

Marisa

There is no reason not to do both! I am 26, getting my Masters degree in The Netherlands (which FYI is way cheaper than in the US) and can travel Europe and Western Asia very conveniently. I worked for a few years before coming to Europe to have money for both school and travels.Yes I can’t travel all the time because of school obligations, but living and going to school over here gives you time to decide where to go and friends who live in those places to show you around. And when I’m done I will not only have had a wonderful traveling experience but a degree that is worthwhile.
JoJo

Or you could do what every past generation of human beings has done to learn, grow, and become a compassionate contributor to society, you could work to improve other’s lives by doing work that impacts your community, your family and your nation.

You could marry young, and grow over the rest of your life with another human being who has committed to loving you unconditionally and who you have sworn your love and fidelity to, and you can become a “real” adult by learning that responsibility, love, faithfulness, joy, and all those “adult things” aren’t something you gained through a solo “me time” jaunt across the globe, but rather virtues you learn after living a noble and good life.

I love travelling, but the mentality that traveling is “better” than all other options when your young is flat out wrong. Yes, TRAVEL! Travel when your young, when your old, and when you’re on the step of death! But do it responsibly. Enjoy travel, glean from travel, and do it as often as you can. But don’t worship it as the magical elixir that will give your life meaning and substance.
Buttz

I think that this author is probably kind of a douche who is a little out of touch with reality
WB

I couldn’t agree more that traveling the world gives people new perspective in life especially people who live in the US, where mass media and junk foods shaping their fears, thoughts, minds, and bodies. Most people have no ideas what it’s like outside the country and slowly becoming narrow minded.

People should travel to witness the greatness of the world. they should realize that the world is not just about paying taxes, going to the clubs on Friday night, getting a good job, sending their kids to a soccer game, and etc.

People should travel to experience and respect other cultures to know that what’s good and proper in their hometown may be considered improper and rude elsewhere.

However, there’s a fine -line separating a world traveler and a loser who cant cope with a real job or GRE/GMAT for grad school. Be sure that you are not running away from the task you need to do, travel with healthy minds and money.

And no, there’s no slave trading in South East Asia. Please don’t exaggerate it to make your experience sounds so dramatic than it actually is. You should travel the world to know that the world is wide and there are so many great cultures out there. Don’t travel to find less fortunate people in order to make you feel more fortunate.
Kelvin Chua

Hi there…. Im a 28 year old Singaporean, just graduated from a university. Any ideas on how to work and travel at the same time ? Singaporeans dont qualify for working holidays btw…..
- http://www.facebook.com/aiko.miyagi 宮城愛子
  
  If your English is good and you don’t mind making a clown of yourself (or if you do mind, but you care more about making the money), you could always teach English in Japan or another country. Teaching English in Japan pays decently, and it’s a good entry point so that you can start doing cooler things like translating or going on food shows on TV once you have some connections.
- http://www.facebook.com/yolene.pierre Yolene Pierre
  
  Hey Kelvin, great questions! Send me a message on facebook and I will direct you to a company where you can work and travel at the sametimes. As far as the holiday is concern, you will never have to work on any holiday. Facebook name YolenePierre
  - Ulysses A.
    
    Hi Yolene, i what to know more about your idea on work and travel, I already sent you a request on fb…
    - http://www.facebook.com/yolene.pierre Yolene Pierre
      
      Hello Ulysses A. I was away on a business trip didn’t see your message, I apology. I checked my facebook, didn’t see your requested, please try again if you like. YolenePierre it will be the same picture I have here on facebook. Looking forward to hear from you.
- http://www.facebook.com/nasri.wahid.7 Nasri Wahid
  
  Hey kelvin. i’m doing exactly that and i’m from Singapore! i might be able to share with you an idea how to go about doing it. Add me up on facebook, Nasri Wahid.
  - Guest
    
    Hey Nasri, where you in Vegas for United? I know alot of people from Singapore was in Vegas.
  - http://www.facebook.com/yolene.pierre Yolene Pierre
    
    Hey Nasri, were you in Las Vegas for United? I met lots of
    people from Singapore in the last trip to Vegas.
    - http://www.facebook.com/nasri.wahid.7 Nasri Wahid
      
      hey yolene! i didn’t had the chance to head over because i was stuck in school! haha! but most of my friends were there! arggghhhh! so jealous!!! haha!
      - http://www.facebook.com/yolene.pierre Yolene Pierre
        
        It was an amazing trip. I hope to see you on the next one. Making Aliving….Living! Enjoy your life my friend!
  - Ulysses A.
    
    Hi Narsri, im interested also about your idea work and travel…
  - Ulysses A.
    
    Hi again Nasri, I already sent you a friend request on fb…
http://twitter.com/angelafpetersen Angela Petersen

Having traveled and studied abroad when I was younger, I agree that travel is a meaningful rite of passage. At that important stage in life, it can be indispensable for developing an educated and well rounded world view.

Another reason to travel when you’re young, is that it’s often linked to increased traveling when you’re older. Seeing how others live through travel continues to be an important part of my life, even if I do it less frequently and for shorter duration now. My accommodations are typically nicer than they used to be!
Llamawoman

We made sure our children had opportunities to travel and experience life in other countries even going against their schools at times. Homeschooling when overseas was easy as living the life, speaking a different language, moving about seeing the geography of the place and being in the middle of the flora / fauna and culture exposed te children to much more than what they would have been learning in the classroom. They returned to school more mature and with a deeper appreciation of other people, as well as of the freedoms we take for granted in this country. Travel – best education of all.
Cynthiaisgr8

This is such a well-written article that puts into words what you gain out of traveling and trying new experiences–either through a cultural exchange program, an internship abroad, working holiday experience, or simple vacation. I work for a cultural exchange company (Alliance Abroad Group) and constantly hear reasons why people are putting off trips. BUT, to hear the stories of those that do participate in our cultural exchange programs–like http://www.australia.allianceabroad.com or teaching homestays–it gives me so much faith and trust in today’s youth. We are learning to appreciate differences, diverse ideas, rich cultures, and the wonder of the planet. By far, what you gain through travel, especially while young and curious, totally out weights the cost (in the form of monetary cost or things like fear). If you are dreaming about travel or even casually thinking about it, DO IT NOW. Your life and path in life will be changed forever for the better. Thanks again for the article. Well done.
http://www.RobertHopkins.net Robert Hopkins

I could not agree more with the above statement, i am 21, having started college later than normal, due to getting a job straight after school, i seen what the working life is like, and what a routine is like, it felt like i was getting in to it too early.. thus why i went back to college to get my degree, and after, i will be sure to travel, i just hope im not considered old.. to travel haha..
- http://www.facebook.com/yolene.pierre Yolene Pierre
  
  Remember, you are never to old for anything. Its all in the mind.
Emily Grossman

Agreed! Simple but important insights. Wish I had read this when I graduated.
http://www.facebook.com/renato.santos.507 Renato Santos

Just beautiful… sometimes we think to much and forget to live life and everything that it has to offer.
http://www.facebook.com/marieglasheen Marie-Helene Glasheen-Buffin

I traveled extensively in my youth from 16 to 27, and alone in the world for two consecutive years, and I do not regret any minute of it. It gave me faith in myself, faith in God, detachment, knowledge of the world and of people, I learned to trust myself that I am resourceful and that I have me in any situation and that it is enough. I am grateful that I had that experience, it allowed me to not get cough up in the societal imposed responsibilities and always know that I have choices the way I want to live my life. Most of all it showed me that God exist and that there is such a thing as absolute truth and there is a path to arrive back to my eternal constitutional position.
Matt

Well to be honest I really do want to travel, I just don’t really know how to.

Should I just go by myself right off the bat? What would I do when I got there etc etc. Is it better to go with a friend?

This is exactly what I want to do I just wish I knew how to go about doing it….
- gccave
  
  I think its better to go with a friend, not only for safety, but to have someone to share the experiences with! Some people plan out their trip ahead of time, and some just have the basics in place. They let the wind carry them where it will. Just be smart and safe. There are lots of resources online that can help you decide where to go and what to do. Hostels are usually a good choice as well.
- http://www.facebook.com/yolene.pierre Yolene Pierre
  
  Hello Matt. If you need more information on how to travel the world please contact me through face book. Yolene Pierre.
  We are the new generation of travel.
Robert

Travelling is for the young AND privileged, that’s another thing this article overlooks. The amount of fuel an intenational flight requires is enough to power the average household for over a year. The ecological footprint is enormous. The “gap year” happens in the developed world only – not one else can afford it.

I also utterly can’t stand the idea that you have to do everything when you’re young because, oh no, time is running out!

I travelled for 4 years in my early 20′s. Yes it was amazing learning experience, no doubt about it. But you know what I realized? It’s utterly impractical. I was one of the privileged who had my parents and a summer job temporarily supporting my lifestyle. But every time I came back to my home country, I was left with: “What do I really have?” Everywhere I travelled, I was faced with diminishing personal resources that always needed to be supported by someone else; I was using the resources of other nations without really giving back; I was leaving my footprints in nature and historic sites, contributing to their degradation; and I was using people’s homes, couches, and hotels to put me up.

I’m looking forward to my 30′s now. I have a vocation that I’m really passionate about, after the discipline to have trained in it. In my 30′s I’ll be able to travel and provide my skills to foreign places that might needed it, and no one will be paying for it but me. I’ll also have the maturity of having learned to become self-sufficient to really understand what money means and I will take full opportunity of my investment, as opposed to the bumming around attitude I had in my 20′s.

My point is… there is no “right time” to travel. If you travel young you’re going to see everything through a much different lens than if you have done self-development in a stable, material way. Go when you need to go. You can MAKE the opportunity. I don’t buy the idea that getting older is a trap. That’s what the previous generation believed, so they only saved for retirement. I’m not saving the rest of my life until I’m almost dead.
- SheSayHeCray
  
  So why didn’t you give back to the places you went to? You didn’t learn any new languages in those 4 years? You didn’t work? Were you a positive influence on the people you stayed with?
  
  I live in Colombia and volunteer teaching English to children, and give yoga classes for a modest price. I also teach English professionally, giving me enough money to live on. I feel good about what I’m doing. If you feel shitty about the time you spent traveling I feel like that’s your own fault.
  
  The argument about international travel being wasteful is just silly – should those planes just stop flying? Putting those airlines out of business?
  
  I do agree that it’s never too late though. Hope you do things differently next time around.
Patrick

My wife and I decided to travel when we were young. So we did. First we got married when we were young, in the mid seventies. Then we had our family when we were young, in the seventies and early eighties. The we decided to travel when we were young, in the naughties and now. If ever I’m not young I’ll probably travel then too.

In summary, this article runs the risk of appearing to be ageist bullshit.
Bridget

Spoken like a true world- traveler! This piece was fantastic! You so eloquently put into words a feeling that I’ve long tried to express about my travels. Sometimes you feel a bit let down when you finally return home and those around you have moved on, gotten degrees and had families. You know that the experiences you have had are worth their weight in gold but until someone else has had those same experiences that can’t really understand how you feel. I will never regret the years spent roaming the world and you’ve just reminded me why.
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Twisted Sister

I doubt you learned Spanish in three months. I have friends in Europe that used to travel to my hometown every one or two years to study the language at the University of my city and to practice it with locals and their spanish got better after a year or two.

Not everyone can travel. Some of us have to work very hard to do it and at the same time help our parents in this economy.
- Atlantis
  
  That he mentioned there would be times when life won’t be just about you, so to some it happens sooner than later. But I bet you still have time to travel just a bit in the meantime, don’t you?
- JuanMa
  
  1. Sí se puede aprender español en 3 meses, tengo una amiga que lo hizo
  2. Te equivocas, TODOS PUEDEN VIAJAR, es cuestión de proponérselo y hacerlo, aunque sea por una semana o unos días: viajar es viajar.
  3. Puedes Ahorrar mientras ayudas a tus padres con la economía.
  
  NO SEAS NEGATIVO!
  - http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
    
    Tienes razon.
http://www.facebook.com/yolene.pierre Yolene Pierre

Thank you Jeff for helping me feeding my habits. I have learned so much from different cultures while traveling and I got to meet some of the most wonderful people on this earth. I wouldn’t have the chance to meet them if I didn’t take the chance to go out there to experience what life has to offer.
JuanMa

muy buen post!!! me has motivado un montón a iniciar la aventura: “Salir de la zona de confort”
http://www.facebook.com/reko.moreno Reko Moreno

As someone who has traveled and studied abroad, I have to agree with you all the way. Great post. Traveling has made me see the world in a totally different perspective, very grateful for all the people I’ve met and the knowledge one acquires when one steps outside of the US.
http://www.facebook.com/nasri.wahid.7 Nasri Wahid

..
http://www.facebook.com/nasri.wahid.7 Nasri Wahid

I totally agree with whatever Jeff mentioned. You see, travelling is my hobby and my Dream is to see the world. I should say that Everyone would love to see the World but what is Stopping them is always the Time and Money. The worst part is, they are NOT doing anything to solve those problems.

I found something that allows me to have both, allowing me to create Fun, Freedom and Fulfillment in my life, Making a Living, Living. I was Open to the idea and Step Out of my Comfort Zone and my friends and I are now planning to visit the 7 Wonders of the World. It’s a Dream that just turn into a Reality!

For those who wants to have More Fun, Freedom, Fulfillment and of course Travelling a lot More, get back to me and i’ll be willing to Share with you guys how i’ve made it possible. This may or may not be for you, i don’t know. But I might be able to help and if you are Open to the Idea about what i wanna share, drop me an email, md.nasri.wahid@gmail.com or just add me up on facebook (Nasri Wahid, Singapore).

#lifeisawesome#ysbh#vacationaftervacation#funfredoomfulfillment#makingalivingliving
- http://www.facebook.com/motoraz Raz Anderson
  
  how do u do it?
  - http://www.facebook.com/nasri.wahid.7 Nasri Wahid
    
    Drop me an email or add me up on Facebook and PM me!
Anonymous6578

Just want to add that traveling while young also includes seeing your own country! I traveled to Thailand as my first trip out of the states and was asked countless questions about places in the US, most of which I had never been to. Upon my return I vowed not to leave the country again until I had visited all 50 states. A few months later my partner and I applied for credit cards, quit our jobs, and drove to each of the 48 continental states over a period of three months. For our honeymoon, we’ll add Alaska and Hawaii. Are we in debt? Yes. Is it manageable? Barely. Was it worth? I would do it again in a heartbeat.
http://www.facebook.com/steve.mcentee.37 Steve McEntee

Only this generation and part of the previous one have seen world-wide travel ( the potential to) as a automatic right . My parents, my grandparents, in my native New Zealand viewed travel as the preserve of the rich. Travel by all means…it’s so accessible today, and it will open your eyes, but be aware of the carbon print you are creating in a finite world,. I have lived outside my native country for 10 plus years and have met many travelers in Asia were I now live. Many have struck me as devoid of even a semblance of responsibility, self-centered, and uncaring outside exterior appearance. By all means travel in this so easy to travel age but do it with a sense of connection to something greater than self and with a sense of world responsibility. We live in an accessible age…present world trends suggest this may not always be the case. So, use your flight fancies, wisely.
Inah Atienza

I’m bitten by the travel bug just now during my college years and I can say that this I picked up a huge chunk out of this: I gained a passion, a more fueling dream, and enlivened more my personality. PLUS I learned to love my own country more when I started seeing more of it personally. Now, I can’t wait to see the other parts of the world! I don’t think being young or not that privileged matters too much to the point that it will be a holding back force. There are ways, and I’ve seen many people do it, and I’m utterly inspired by them. Just as I was so glad I have read this piece. Thank you for this!
Writing+travelling=passion
Krenna

How are young people supposed to afford traveling?! Of course I’d travel in a heartbeat If I had the money.
- http://www.facebook.com/nasri.wahid.7 Nasri Wahid
  
  I’m 25 and I can travel! It’s possible and I got a way to do so! If you open to the idea, I’m will be more than willing to share this great idea! Add me up on Facebook, Nasri Wahid. We can chat there!
Sean

Sadly, this post ignores one very significant possibility: That the things you’re giving up to travel may be infinitely greater than any experiences you’ll have out there. You may end up with regrets that far outweigh anything you might gain. I planned to bicycle around the world, and while I was planning the trip, I met a girl. We fell madly, unbelievably in love in the three months leading up to my trip, and thought we had the rest of our lives. I left knowing full well that she was a very fragile person, and one month into my trip, we were engaged, though I was hurting her in ways she couldn’t say. I only rode 10,000 miles, and one month before my trip ended, we were no longer engaged. It took four months for us to begin to put the pieces back together, and before we finished, her fragile mind killed her. I gave up a perfect life on earth with her for the possibility of adventure, of some grand feat to be proud of. I set speed records on three of the most remote highways in the world, made new friends in the corners of the earth, caught up with long lost friends, and charged (and backed down) a grown bear. All this is not worth a hair on the head of the greatest person I have ever known, who would still be here if I had realized what I had and that it needed to be tended. I hope the writer of this post can one day feel something that will make him understand how absolute his platitudes ought not be.
Noni

I’m going on my first big trip overseas this year, so excited, I’ve wanted to travel for so long. So uni is over this year and off to USA. I’ve worked the shit shifts on a register and done the crappy jobs to save up and go, but its all worth it. I’m lucky that my boyfriend of 3 years wants to do the same things and has the same aspirations in life. We want to travel the world as much as possible, then later set down some roots, but were in know hurry for that yet. I think go for it, and if your lucky enough to have someone to share in these amazing moments then definitely do it. Life is way to short, you never know what’s around the corner. Make memories, life experiences, fall down and get back up; that’s what life is all about right?
- http://www.facebook.com/yolene.pierre Yolene Pierre
  
  Congratulation Noni on your first big trip! I know for sure you and your boyfriend will love it. However, to travel like the VIP you have got to travel with Dreamtrips. Get more info. http://www.Campus-stuend.com I have been traveling with them for the past 3 years nothing compare with the services they provide to their clients. First Class service. Check it out for yourself.
gabK008

You should align this with travelling alone. Sometimes travelling with friends puts a safety net in front of these experiences, or even letting them take the reigns and sit back and enjoy the view. Even though I enjoy travelling with friends more, the more memorable ones that stuck were the ones when I was alone, making friends everyday and backpacking by day and night by necessity of choice rather than following the leader . I’m a 20 year old girl and went to India for 2 months alone and 1 month with friends. I’ve also lived in Korea for 6 months and meant so many new friends there. Maybe your so comfortable in your shell you don’t need to travel, why travel when your happy where you are. But there’s one clear reason: growth. Humans are made to grow and grow from it. Why not becoming happier facing new obstacles and overcoming them? There’s nothing to lose and there’s so much more to gain when travelling.
- gabK008
  
  And keep in mind: Re-culture shocks. Going back home, it’s hard to adjust. You loved the life overseas you had you can’t seem to let it go. But that’s the whole process of adaption! We can do it and love life anywhere at anytime thanks to travelling. Honestly I got very depressed when I was adjusting back to home because my friend’s thought I was more snobbish since I came back, when really, I was just more comfortable with myself. I was just who I am. I’m happy now, and managed to become an adapter; talk to anyone, anytime, anywhere. A love for culture and people. GAINED.
http://www.hopy1.com/ hopy

I think if we are healthy, the only problem is that we have to have money to travel
- http://www.facebook.com/nasri.wahid.7 Nasri Wahid
  
  In fact it’s possible now Hopy! I have a platform to do so and travel for a living. Drop me an email if you wanna know more! md.nasri.wahid@gmail.com
Wandering Ken

I couldn’t disagree with this guy more. One should travel when one is ready. This guy is just promoting traveling for the sake of traveling, not living life without regrets. Now that is the crux of life, live it without regrets. If you want to go to school, go to school. If you want a career job and then travel, then do that. Don’t put life on hold just to travel if thats not what you really want to do. I never left my region till I was 30 and never left my country till I was 32 and never left my continent till I was 34. Do I regret waiting so long? No. My 20′s weren’t wasted at all. During that time I went to university in 2 cities, fell in love, had my heart broken, lived in 10 apts/homes, and had an equal number of jobs, did a stint with the military, feel in love with tattooing and learned who I was. Knowing who I am and what I was capable of let me travel through Greenland, the UK, Spain, France, Greece, Djbouti, Oman, Kuwait, Dubai and Doha without fear or worry. Have I stopped travelling? No/never. There is a big world out there and I want to see it. Am I young? lol young enough, but who the fuck cares that I’m not 20? Do I have regrets? Nope. Because I did it my way and that has made all the difference.
- Traveler
  
  He said towards the end it’s never too late to travel. He’s not stating that you can ONLY travel when you’re young, just that it’ll be easier and an experience you can carry with you through adulthood.
http://twitter.com/deborahtd Deborah Turner-Davis

There are a lot of negative comments below, and I think many are missing the point. Yes, airplanes consume fuel (?!), but to suggest that flying by plane in order to participate in our world is a flagrant, shameful waste of the earth’s resources is overstating. Yes, it takes money to travel, but it takes just as much money as you decide it takes. You CAN travel cheaply; in fact those are some of the greatest life lessons travel can teach you…economy, budgeting, want vs. need, roughing it, humility etc. Working and saving to achieve any goal is valuable; working for the money to travel is rewarding. I know many employed young people who don’t save for anything… who don’t know the reward of a goal accomplished. Life happens fast. Either you travel when you are young and unencumbered with children or you wait. If you’re lucky, you travel with your children but unless you prove to yourself that you CAN travel on your own, you will never have the confidence to risk it with your kids.
Travel will provide a maturity of experience that no job, no degree, no bank balance will ever afford. It is worth the sacrifice. It is worth the risk.
- P_to_the_MC
  
  Well said. Now that aviation fuel can be synthesised, the idea that we’re depleting natural resources is beside the point, and in practical terms, incorrect. In fact the available reserves of oil and gas keep growing.
  
  And carbon dioxide from fuel combustion doesn’t change the world’s climate, it just allows plants to grow and create oxygen… that wonderful process called “photosynthesis” that we all learned at school before we were 10 years old!
Phillip

Thank you… you have made a difference in me
Boone

I love this article. Going to southeast asia in 24 days. Go travel and explore the world!
- http://www.facebook.com/lennster Lenny HJ
  
  come to Singapore k!
- http://www.facebook.com/yolene.pierre Yolene Pierre
  
  Wow! That’s Awesome Boone! I’m happy for you. I bet you can’t wait for that day to arrive? You are going to have an awesome time there, brace yourself forget about work and everything else and enjoy the trip.
  
  One tip next time you travel, you have got to travel as a dreamtriper! Learn more at http://www.Campus-Student.com. First class
  - http://www.facebook.com/dek.dimaya Dek Dimaya
    
    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200825776748505
Bryan

I totally agree! I’ve been to nine countries and I’m only 20 years old. Traveling is really a great way of widening one’s perspective.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=735589809 Dan Perlman

While I agree with the main thrust of the article, I think the assumption that traveling later in life (whatever age that may be) will be “not easy” is pretty condescending and off the mark. The whole “yeah but” applies just as much, just generally with different endings to the sentence.
http://www.bakhrom-mananov.blogspot.com/ Bakhrom

Nice article, it reminded me about possibilities which may be lost by passage of time and increase of personal responsibilities, thanks a lot Jeff
http://www.y8u.org/ Y8

This is a lot of information to take in, but I am enjoying the thought process. I really am impressed with your article. Thank you.
http://www.facebook.com/dek.dimaya Dek Dimaya

Check this!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200825776748505
Jo Johnson

Totally agree! I travelled as a child and a teenager with my parents we covered half the globe, then between my 20s and now (I’m 41) I’ve seen most of the other half… I have 2 children and just take them with me, they love it! I shall never stop! I plan to give my children the greatest experiences in life and if they enjoy their childhood anything like I did then I’ll be more than happy. But thanks for the reminder, great article!
Niklas

I’m 28 and I’ve travelled to America and around Europe to perform music. However I think your article might come off as condenscending towards people who didn’t have the opportunity or ability to travel in their 20s. Having the opportunity isn’t only about having the money but also a matter of being healthy and finding yourself in the right circumstances. What I’m saying is that being young isn’t necessarily (and doesn’t have to be) the same experience for everyone, and not everyone had the ability to travel the globe.
- travelbug
  
  which is why he says IF you can. Of course not everyone can, he’s directing this at people who are tossing up several choices one of which is travel – and encouraging them to make the leap and choose travel
fu

If i seen Jeff on my travels i wouldnt want to travel with or show compassion to him. His single view that travel is a means of maturity is pathetic at best.
Jo Carroll

And what if you couldn’t when you were young? You had no money, life was different for women etc. Then never give up the dream. (I was 56 when I first went round the world. Into my 60s now, and have no intention of stopping!)
John

The world already has one Don Miller. Do we really need another?
Johnny

Well written! Life is definitely an adventure worth taking, and part of that adventure is traveling. I feel that seeing other parts of the world really gets you out of your comfort zone and truly helps you grow as an individual. Whether young or old, you should travel as much as you can.
xico porto

and… when u fell that u’ve been travel a lot and its time to settle back and start to have a rotine… probably is the exactly time… to go…
ACR

If someone knows how to do this without having lots of money please let me know. Its been my dream since I was a kid.
- Charjuben
  
  Teach. Live modestly.
  Becoming a teacher is an easy way to find a community of support. Your school will help with legalities of long term stay, your fellow teachers will introduce you to the subculture of local youth and your students welcome you into their homes and heart.
  Living modestly is an important lesson in life. It will break your dependency on amassing things, new clothes and dining a la carte. Learn to cook whole, non processed foods. Give the gift of time and attention.
  I traveled for four years with less than $1000 start up.
  I have learned to see through stereotypes, accept our universal qualities, takes risks. I have also learned two languages. I have danced with grandpas and on beaches. I’ve been hurt, scared and insulted. I’ve been attacked by lots of flightless birds.
  My shoulders have hurt from heavy backpacks and my heart has soared when my students call me mommy.
  It’s worth it.
- http://www.facebook.com/stacyreeves Stacy Reeves Gulledge
  
  Alternate 6-9 months of work with 3-6 months of travel. During those “work” months, take on 2-3 jobs, save everything you can, live with your parents or with friends, eat ramen, drink water, etc. Even on minimum wage you can earn 10k in six months, and any travel blogger with tell you that that is more than enough to live abroad for at least a year. Once you get to your dream location, live in hostels or in student housing or a communal apartment, buy your food at grocery stores, and go to free or discounted attraction hours. If you want to live abroad permanently, get a job as a tour guide or an English teacher, or start your own business as a blogger, photographer, writer, etc. There are so many ways to do it, and every day that you sit on your couch and say “I can’t” there are hundreds of people in your same situation who are making it happen with less.
- sjpm
  
  follow working holiday visas around the world! travel is cheap! I met a guy who travelled for two years on £5000! depends where you go and what lifestyle you want to live! any questions just ask x
Charjuben

I dole out this advice too. It was given to me by my mother and her friends. “travel” they said “before you have kids, take chances” Times were different for them. They were shuffled from school to marriage and children. Cash strapped and baby burdened they have only just begun to travel in retirement.
I’m glad I can took their advice. I’m home now. Married to the best guy I’ve ever known, three angel children, a mortgage (an investment property), some pets and no cash or big chunks of time for travel. I have an amazing life but it’s made all the sweeter knowing I’ve slept in a hammock in the rain forest!
http://www.facebook.com/marcelomcoutinho Marcelo Coutinho

do you mind if I translate it to portuguese on my blog?
- http://twitter.com/eliaking022 eliaking022
  
  Liga nada, é só tu citar ele. Boa ideia by the way
http://www.facebook.com/stacyreeves Stacy Reeves Gulledge

I am an expat living abroad, so I definitely love this post. My husband and I wanted to live in Europe, but we were so afraid of what would happen to our jobs, our family, our pets, our house, etc, and we let that hold us back for so so long. Finally one day we just decided to go for it, no matter what. To our total shock, everything fell into place almost immediately. Our companies allowed us to continue working remotely from overseas (HUGE shock to us), our families supported us, our pets happily came with us, we sold our house, and all those obstacles just disappeared. We sold everything we owned and moved to Paris, and we’ve never been happier. We’re going to start a family abroad, and our children will travel the world with us too. Meanwhile so many of our friends back home keep telling us how they wish they could do it too, but kids/jobs/money/family/property/etc are holding them back.

I see where Jeff is coming from in suggesting that you do it young when you don’t have as many of those excuses to hold you back, but honestly you can do it no matter what your age or current situation. You just have to make up your mind that you’re going to do it, and nothing is going to stop you. Once you really truly have that mindset, then you’ll be amazed at how quickly things fall into place, and before you know it you’re living your dreams!
lyn

This is truly inspirational. I’ve been waiting for exciting and wonderful things to happen my whole life, but they never do. Like you said, ‘yeah but’ are fatal words. Those were my justifications for not doing the things that I really wanted to do. I am scared of things I’ve never done before, I keep thinking of the worst scenario, what if this and that… But this, this really motivates me to try harder to step out of the borders I’ve drawn around me. Well, wish me luck. Thanks for enlightening me!
sjpm

I started to travel and I don’t mean this bullpoo holiday of a month at max.Really travel.see a place properly! I left England in 2010 and travelled the whole time bar a year in NZ but still travelled when working there! travel is cheap and the experience worthless.we came to london in Jan and are already planning to leave to travel again! hopefully for another two years then work again to save and travel more! Travel changes you sooo much! the writer is very correct! materialism disappears,you sit in the tube and hate the people opposite you for wearing a Marc Jacobs handbag because that bag could buy a 100 lives! But if I said this out loud to the western world they look like I’m dumb!’i give what I can!’ hahaha the funniest term I have heard! people who say this have no idea because they haven’t seen! if you have stood in an refuge camp in Africa you definitely wouldn’t say this! if you stood in the main temple in Lhasa and watch the malnutrition end children’s parents giving up their rice for budda you definitely wouldn’t say this! I’m not saying people in the western world are idiots but isolated with a dream of being free and with a true voice! I urge everyone to travel! Please! it will definitely change you as a person,your perspective in the world,your perspective in everything I can vouch for it I Promise! but if you travel go off the beaten track see untouched backpacker parts see he true beauty of places!
- OMG!!!!
  
  This is by far the most overuse of an exclamation mark in one article that I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sjpm

if anyone needs advise I’m happy to give any! trust me if you leave,two weeks after you leave home you will all of a sudden realise you don’t have to go back home it’s so empowering! if your scared of missing family don’t be they can visit you or Skype! Please please make this step! good luck people! I’m excited for you if you haven’t don’t it yet! x
Mattie Mae

Ride a bicycle across the Golden Gate — check! When I was 22 I took a 1500 mile bicycle trip down the west coastal highway. I couldn’t find anyone to commit to riding with me so I went by myself. It changed my life — put me well on the way to being bulletproof and changed the way I saw myself and the world. And though I was very small and female, I never came close to having a problem. So what’s your excuse — get OUT there!
Gerald T.

Although I never took the chance to leave for a longer time, travelling is my favourite thing to do. It is not the far distances, other continents but in Europe visiting many different towns and countries, find ones I like, return to them as often I can. I am more the type to stay in a place I like, get common with the people and in small steps go on, that suits me better then being on the run all of the time as I did when I was young.
But at least I agree – travelling is the best thing you can do!
Gerald 56 years.
Johnlb

Travelling is much better when you have straightened out priorities in life. For me, travelling is now more exciting after finishing my masters degree and having a
great career. Travelling may be something you can do to celebrate what you have achieved in life. It’s a different perspective when you are younger. It’s a celebration. I could look back and relish my educational achievements over travels. It’s a personal choice what makes one fullfilled in life as different people have different circumstances. Ego integrity in later life is not all about travels but really looking back what you should have done.
- Marlene
  
  Thanks for your reply. I’ve been struggling over a decision between teaching abroad in South Korea and going into a teaching credential program. I already applied to the program, got in , and can stay at home to save money. I realized that if I were to teach abroad this coming year, upon my return I’d have nowhere to stay // couldn’t go back to school for another year // would probably struggle to get by substitute teaching.
  Been out of college 2 years (i’m 24) and no job yet. I actually volunteer teach full time for an extremely small amount of money
  I decided to think long term and get my credential so that I’d have opportunities at home when I get back from abroad…or even have better opportunities down the line at an International School.
  Although I am worried that if I don’t do it now, I may never make my teaching abroad dream happen, I think I will feel better going abroad knowing that I will have the credentials for a fulfilling career when I get back to the states!
  - Marlene
    
    Also, I’ve been very blessed to have a handful of travelling experiences already in my life–Mexico when I was 18, backpacking adventure in Nicaragua last year, studying abroad in Costa Rica, and volunteering abroad in the Dominican Republic… SO I know the thrill and the lessons that can be learned
Jessica

As someone who works at an animal shelter and deals with with the tragedy and aftermath of the animals who were no longer convenient, I felt offended within the introduction.

What about that dog? The one who waits for you to come home and make a little time for him? The one you may take to a shelter “to find a good home.” While he sits confused in the cold and lonely kennel waiting for you to come back, do you go live your life like his life doesn’t matter?

Sure, live your life and enjoy it to the fullest, but not at the expense of another. Didn’t you say traveling taught you compassion? How about compassion for a being who loves you unconditionally?
- Monaco Chanel
  
  You can still travel the world and have a dog, or a boyfriend or a car etc. and not dump them on the side of the road. Take them with you! Many hotels are pet friendly and its not uncommon for unmarried people to travel together.
  
  The lesson to take away from this article is to not say “I can’t traveling because of ______” but instead say to yourself “How can I travel the world despite having __________ “.
- AdamRC
  
  I am sure he did not intend for someone to read this and starve an animal to death. lol Its going to be ok Jessica. If you have someone who loves you unconditionally then bring them with. If they would rather not go or it is not possible for them you should still go. If the love between the two people/animals is true then it will surely exist upon your return. As I lay dying I will not look back (if i don’t have Alzheimers) and regret that I went and experienced life. I will only regret the things I wished to but never experienced.
Sam

This was a great post Jeff. I’m a life coach and it’s just what the doctor ordered as I’ve been encouraging a few people to follow their dreams. Well done!
kalas90

i just wanted to say thank you, this really spoke to me because i have been struggling with trying to be a young sucess and pretty much living to work, after reading this i am seriously thinking about dropping being one of the youngest successful chefs in my area and i think im going to experience something greater then work, the world. Thank you for those wonderful words.
- Ruth Gibbons
  
  What a great careet to be in to compliment any travel. Just think of all the different ingredients, ways of cooking, tastes and new receipes that you can collect while travelling the world. I to am a chef and have done abit of travelling and wow it’s just great to get back to work and start cooking again after a break from it. So much to see and taste around the world. Travelling is good for the soul and the palette
Jackie Fields

My boyfriend and I are bicycling across America from June to September this year and when we get back home I will move to China to teach English for one year. This article has me in tears. After weeks of deliberation about right and wrong and the choices I am making as a 24 year old with college debt I finally feel a sense of empowerment. Thank you so much Jeff.

If you would like, please follow our blog as we travel cross country as well

http://pushinthelimit.blogspot.com

Thanks for the inspiration!
- biking
  
  nice to bike around, what country of America did you bike?
cags777

Wonderful article and great reminder. Curious what you define as old?
Jessica Hill

I’m sitting at the airport now, bound for home and grad school after a year and a half of traveling. I’m so glad I made the decision to travel first! Even though I’m not yet done traveling (and never want to be) I can now follow my educational dreams without regret for not traveling instead. Nobody can ever take away the amazing things I’ve seen and done over the last 18 months. Thanks for your words!
http://twitter.com/MarginalBounds T.W. Anderson

Skip school altogether, travel and build a blog, start making money, and go the passive income route. No reason to grow old being a wage slave to someone else when you can travel the world full time!
Laura @Travelocafe.com

Being in our 30s we travel anyway… Thanks for the advice.
http://www.facebook.com/amy.bielma Amy Mather Bielma

I retired last summer at 58 and my husband at 64. We usually do a cruise every one or two years. He drives to a family reunion and goes to an annual “War at the Shore (W.A.T.S.) in Myrtle Beach every Labor Day. This year I will have completed 4 cruises (western Med, Paris, London, Baltic, western Med, Honduras, Tortola are examples of places). I have also started to visit my dad in another state every 2 months.

Why? Everything you said in your article. Dec 2011 I climbed 2,000 feet up a newly broken trail on the side of an extinct volcano in the Caribbean. Some young people couldn’t complete the climb. Last fall I climbed the last 1,000 feet of Mt. Vesuvius. It was a gravelly four-wheel road necessary for park upkeep, but soooo steep to climb. An adventure and experience only for the young to see into an active volcano then down onto the city of Naples and the Med from far away. I saved half of every pay raise my entire working life so that I could see every country I could possibly visit when I retired early. I plan to live frugally when I get my IRA and Social Security so that I can continue to travel. I didn’t save to make my children wealthy when I die.
- no money
  
  only with money!
  - PeejzNana
    
    And believe me, I started out p-o-o-r. I still traveled on a shoestring in my ratty tent when I was young and, as I said, I never let myself enjoy half of any pay raise. I never missed that other half since I never let myself see it before it went to savings. I’ve started using it the last few years “just in case” I don’t make it to retirement age. I don’t buy a lot of “things” other people have, just because I tend to ask myself what country I would miss if I spent the money on that “thing”. I smile and put it back.
- ST
  
  not everyone lives til their 50s-60s. So, sure, saving to retire early is SMART, and I HOPEHOPEHOPE I can do that. But to miss out on travel in your youth, especially when tomorrow isn’t promised, is too sad…
Leeleec

I have to say that in my opinion, the article is a bit superficial. I love travelling – and have done so since I am 18- but it is not the cure against everything as the author makes it sound like. Of course, it does change some of your attitudes, behavioural patterns etc. – but it does not change your fundamental self! Travelling is about exploring – the world, your self, human nature – but it is not a given for a fulfilled life nor will it fulfill you if you are not able to be happy exactly where you are right now! All the people travelling for the sake of finding happiness and fulfillment: Look inside yourselves
- Guy
  
  One point here is crucial – the more you travel, the more you do get to know yourself. To me, that’s one of the biggest benefits. When you aren’t traveling, you are likely stuck in routine and you never get time for introspection. Traveling forces introspection.
ANDyROID

I wish I have a European or American Passport so that my choices (of countries) to visit is a lot. Unfortunately, for someone who comes from a developing country in Southeast Asia, we need a LOT OF MONEY to be able to travel (especially in Europe, North and South America). The VISA requirements are crazy (must have a fat bank account, etc.) and the airfare is almost a fortune! And how can you have these if you’re young and still working a regular job (unless you are a child of a very rich businessman). That’s my frustration
I love to travel / stay in other cities – and so far, my adventures have only brought me to my Asian neighbours (bec there’s no visa required and the airfares are cheap).
- nawu
  
  i agree with you, we are from developing country and maybe such a regular employee, we don’t have much fund to travel the world such america and europe, the only countries we can visit are our neighbours countries in southeast that dont need visa and cheap airfares. we do really want to travel america and europe but our fund is limitless. do you everybody has any advice how to make it come true without spending much fund? i’ll be glad to hear. thank you.
- Beta
  
  I completely agree… I’m 36 (almost 37 now), but I still feel young to travel. The only thing that stop me is the money… I’m Brazilian, so I have the same problem with visas, expensive airfares and don’t have either rich parents or European passport… Yes, it’s not easy in the real world. I have been to England and some few countries nearby, but even to travel around Brazil or South America is very expensive if you don’t have a really really good job and maybe for youngest people it could be easier if they don’t have any responsibilities with the pay bills at their parent’s house. But here in South America we do help at home with the bills or then we move out very young from our parent’s house… Not easy at all… Only on movies, where it seems they don’t need money at all… :p
zaira

I think this article is great. Since I’m back from my trip to South America, where I’ve been for 3 months, I changed. I have always been very insecure, but I’m feeling so much better now. I’m not afraid anymore to take risks and I’m a lot more autonomous. And in fact, for me, traveling isn’t always about seeing the Machu Picchu or riding down the Death Road, it’s also about meeting fellow travelers and learning from them. You just get a bond with them you won’t get at home… That was the greatest part of my backpacking adventure!
Mohsin

Travelling is the best thing you can do, it gives you 100 percent freedom, you can do everything you want while you travel. In your daily life, you are unconsciously dependent on other people, during your travels, you are also 100 independent. That feeling is indescribable.Travel alone is better because you make contact with other people traveling faster. If you go with someone you know then you make less contact. I’ve done both ways and traveling alone gives you more freedom you had always wanted. My name is Mohsin amdaouech 23 years from amsterdam
Chenoan

A few months ago I felt like I’d reached rock bottom, I had no ambition, no aspirations, a job that had sucked me in and kept spitting me out, the usual love life woes. I felt awful. After high school I opted away from university for the time being because I wanted to travel and live my life but there I was almost three years later still waitressing at the same place watching my money pile up in anticipation for the “big travel” that I always talked about but never did. It was a goal that kept me going, but I never really cemented.
I saw one cheap ticket and booked a one-way ticket to South East Asia. with one week to wrap everything up I rented out my room, bought a lifetime supply of catfood for my housemates and with a laptop, a toothbrush and two sets of clothing to my name I boarded a plane out of the country for the first time.
I lasted just over two months, problems at home demanding my attention: my cat was ill, the people I’d rented the room out to were savages, and just poor planning for the trip I felt cornered into returning to the real world.

Now I’m back but I just want to leave again. My biggest woes were the concerns of taking out a personal loan to fund it, my cat and the new lease I’ve just signed. I have so many But’s right now but this article made me think twice. I’ll be out of here in six months. I’m Sure.
LissaD

Just a word of caution to balance out your piece – you say you know plenty of people who went to grad school/started careers after traveling and are perfectly successful, and, of course, I know many as well. However, I also know many people that went traveling and ended up using their “acquisition of important life experiences and perspective” as a justification for never properly joining the workforce and becoming a responsible adult. I very much believe in “to each his own” and would be fine with that choice, except that these people are now – without exception – totally miserable with their life situation. They’re 40 (or 50!) years old, still living with a bunch of 20-something deadbeat flatmates (or their elderly parents), in dead-end jobs with heaps of debt, and are beginning to understand how many doors have closed for them. One by one, they have all now reached some tragic threshold where they are looking around wondering where the hell their life went wrong. I have nothing specifically against traveling – I do 1-2 international trips per year and have been to 5 continents, starting when I was 22, and I’m now mid-30′s – and my experiences doing so have made me a far better person. However, I also completed a Ph.D. and started my career during the same set of years. I just caution your young readers not to overly romanticize the notion of abandoning your life and adventure traveling – if you don’t want to end up bitter at 50, make sure you balance your wanderlust and personal growth with some serious career planning for whatever employment path is your passion. The sad truth is that life moves on in your home country in your absence, and if you want to remain competitive in your career, a little balance will go a long way towards helping you realize ALL of your life goals.
- Alina
  
  the wisest advise i’ve read so far!!
  Traveling is great, is a wonderful experience and changes you BUT in order to travel a lot, you need money. So i’d say – go to grad school, if you can, study well and get a high schore. Travel in summers and try to obtain some years of valuable working experience. Once you have a diploma and at least a few years of working experience, then you can travel as much as you want. You can take a year off and go around the world. Or you can keep working and travel on your vacation time. Or you can try and find a job, which require lots of traveling and you will actually enjoy it for a while.
  I didn’t travel that much in my youngest years, because i did not have any money for that. But i studied well and now i have a job that makes me travel at least once per month. Sometimes around the country, sometimes around the world. I’ve been to more then 70 countries, i moved from my country and live in China now. And what i can say – i am tired of traveling, guys. Now i want to spend my days off in quietness and read a good book. Traveling is great, but there is no better place, then home!!
- http://onlybloodyhuman.com/ Ariel Body
  
  To be fair, I think the scenario you described comes down more to the person you are describing that the fact that he travelled. Really, I guess it’s all about balance.
  
  “A career is a 21st century invention” and in the longterm, it’s not the most important thing in life. It’s a career. It’ll be there waiting when (if!) you get back. Travel gives you encounters with life and teaches you see the world from a different perspective. I think it inspires us to be passionate, as well. About who we are and the world we live in – to be aware and compassionate and involved in the world around us. In the longterm, isn’t that more valuable than rushing a grad school degree?
Lillian Kathleen

Traveling the world is eye opening; but even just traveling across the country changes you, and helps you find yourself and your abilities as an adult to actually be an independent person. I myself have travelled abroad, as well as live in many different states after turning 18 simply because I wanted adventure, freedom and a little risk. For anyone who is uncertain, you really can do it. I’ve been told many times in the last 5 years from my friends and family how they’re “jealous” of what I’m doing, they don’t know how I’m doing it, or they want to and are uncertain…

Seriously- no effort at all. Jump right in. Dive head first. The water may be cold at first but you acclimate and, once you do, you will know it’s the best decision you’ve ever made. Nanny/au pair if you’re wanting to make money and have a steady Nd guaranteed place while being abroad. Or volunteer with an organization– there are plenty who need you. Or simply be a badass and backpack. Whichever way you feel comfortable. Stop making excuses. Do it
May

Traveling is an eye opener when you are a citizen of first world country. It is both a challenge and a learning process when you are a citizen of third world country. I was born in a third world country, having a dream to travel the world and now I live in a first world country and I must say, I’m half way there to really live my dream.
It is much much more difficult for me to travel abroad because of the stereotype and the expensive currency, not to mention the visa application.
But nothing will ever hard enough because the heart knows what it wants. it has set to travel the world. =)
http://sanguines.wordpress.com
bz

Congrats to all of those privileged people who can afford to travel and don’t HAVE to go to grad school because their parents will not pay for their “gaap yaahrs”….
- Ben Pirotte
  
  Dear bz,
  
  Please see above.
  
  Ben
Krista

Hello,
I get excited just reading this post! I want more than anything to have the freedom to do what I want, but my biggest problem is money. I just got a good (well, at least better) job almost 4 years after I graduated College (finally!), and now I have other commitments (paying for my car, rent, food, etc.). Someone pleeeease tell me how it can still be possible to live the way you want to when you don’t have the money??
- v
  
  Hey!
  
  There’s always a way to live the way you want. If you take
  off
  for six months to a year it may be a little cheaper for you than a week
  or month long trip. This way you can lease your car to someone and get a
  small monthly income, and sublet your apartment so it will be waiting
  for you when you get back.
  
  When you travel you don’t have to stay in fancy hotels. You
  can
  stay in hostels (like dorms where anywhere from two to thirty or so
  people stay in the same room.) There lots of fun and I’ve meet a lot of
  great (and not so great) people that way! My friend introduced me to
  something called couch surfing. Where you meet a family and if you like
  them they let you sleep on their couch and feed you if your lucky. If
  you don’t like them after you guys have met and talked you say thank you
  and leave.
  
  While travel is expensive, its not as expensive as everyone
  thinks. All you need is a backpack.
  
  V
  
  PS Congrats on the New JOB!!
  - Krista
    
    Thank you !
- Nasri Wahid
  
  Hey Krista, I’m Nasri from Singapore! I’ve heard a lot of people saying that and i’m glad you asked! I’m currently pursuing my degree now but i’ve been travelling quite often for leisure and it’s all because of the new concept of travel that i’m involve in! Time and Money was always the problem but now, it’s not an issue to me anymore! If you love Travelling, knows how to have Fun, YOU’RE QUALIFIED! HAHA!
  
  It’s impossible for me to explain here and it may or may not be for you. But i’m willing to share if you wanna know about it. Drop me an email and we shall find a way for me to share it with you! md.nasri.wahid@gmail.com
  Can’t wait to share this amazing idea and hopefully i might be able to help you!
  
  Hear from you soon! =D!
Nathan Galilee

Here’s my response to this article: bit.ly/15ocd3s
- http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins
  
  I appreciate your perspective, Nathan.
Mo

I’m still a teenager, but I can completely relate to your points above, and have actually done many of the things/been to many of the places you’ve listed above. I’ve learned to be adventurous – embarking on my own journeys of exploration to the extent I feel “somewhat” safe, compassionate – learning to care more about local issues after a trip to India working with the disabled and orphans, and cultured – having been to over 30 countries and 5 of 7 continents as of this point in my life. And while I do see the merit of traveling, and do urge the youth to travel, I can’t say I concur with your idea that people who choose to say “Yeah, but…” are cowards attempting to put up a veneer of nobility. Choosing to travel for an extensive time is a huge lifestyle choice that unfortunately comes with many sacrifices – many of which are quite dire and frankly, almost insurmountable. Debt, for example, is crippling, especially to the youth just starting out in the world. In the current state of our monetary system, debt accumulates rapidly, pushing financial stability for the youth further and further away. There are many factors that need to be weighed in the decision of whether or not to travel. Obviously, we would all like to just drop everything and go see the world, but most of the time, because of various societal constraints, that just isn’t a possibility. I’m lucky enough to be born into a relatively affluent family that can afford to send me places, but many of my friends aren’t, and I recognize that, as should you. The weeks or months of traveling might be rejuvenating and enlightening, but the hard years that follow might just make the experience unworthy.
Nick Wagstaff

I’m 31, have a steady job, and I am ALWAYS planning my next adventure. Never the same place twice.
LA

You have no right to give voice to “life as you get older” since you’re barely out of diapers. There is no perfect age to travel you moron. It’s more important to embrace life and travel. Read this article in 20 years and you’ll be embarrassed of your narrow mined view of age.
Lehel

Yep, a very good article, it was a pleasure reading it. I might add that from my point of view age doesn’t matter, your state of mind is what matters.
http://adventurefrenzy.wordpress.com/
Gurendan

MONEY…
Al

The title “3 Reasons to Travel While You’re Young” should really read “Just Travel.” This article was not very good on selling why you should travel while you’re young. Rather, just states reasons to travel. Seems like someone who just graduated with an english major but couldn’t find a job is now just trying to blog. And is mediocre at that.
not dead yet!

I am 44 years old and I have 2 kids. I am seperated and I have worked like a dog at a decent job for 6 years and I am not going to let responsabilities stop me from travelling. I am heading to SE asia this winter and I will flow like the wind and see where it takes me. thankfully I have more than enough money to go anywhere i want to but getting time away from work and being a father is incredibly hard. regardless I am committed to seeing this through. I know it will change me…im looking forward to that a lot.
Dorme

I do not agree.

I sometimes feel that (young) people today are as pressured to travel, just as they were pressured to settle down and start a family a few generations ago. While that was unfair towards those who actually wanted to travel (but didn’t dare), the urging to travel at any cost is unfair to those of us who simply *don’t want to*. I understand that some people want to travel and actually enjoy it. I understand they grow and learn from it. But to say that everyone secretly wants to travel, some are only too cowardly to do it is just *wrong*.

I’ve not travelled widely, exactly, but more than most people do by the time I was 18 because my mother urged me to. While I was not bored while abroad, exactly, I did not enjoy it half as much as being home, gardening, sewing, reading, playing the piano and things like that. Now that I am free to do what I want I certainly do not mean to travel; I want to have kids, to build a house, to learn to knit.

I do not agree that a person would necessarily regret travelling more. A person regrets not doing what they truly want to. If they truly want to travel and do not get the chance they may regret it. But if I want to have a big family I will definitely regret travelling as a young adult.

If you travel “you will feel more connected to your fellow human beings in a deep and lasting way” and “will learn to care”. Undoubtedly, if you do not travel as a tourist. But you can achieve the same thing by volunteering.

As you travel, you will also encounter many wonderful people. People who are often much wiser, more compassionate and happier than any you’ve met in your home country even though most of them have never travelled outside their home town. You do *not* need to travel to “become a person of culture, adventure and compassion”. You become that by paying attention to your surroundings and the people around you; most people find this easier to do when abroad because they are not under stress from work or day-to-day life, but that does not mean you *need* to be abroad to manage the same adventurous outlook. What you need is to open your eyes to the world around you, even if you never go anywhere.

So there you have it. I do not want to travel, and I am a young adult. It is not for me. Saying that you should travel when you are young is no better than telling a young girl you should catch a man while you are still young and pretty enough. Not everybody wants the same things, so please respect that.
- notabigfanoftravelling
  
  Finally! I’ve always felt that there must be something wrong me for not actually wanting to travel! And I agree with your points, travelling may be one way to “become a person of culture, adventure and compassion”; but definitely not the only way.
- Lovetotravel
  
  I totally agree with you! Although I love to travel myself and find it amazing and totally recommend it to other people. I do believe that for some it feels like a pressure that they have to do this otherwise that haven’t experienced life fully. And honestly, traveling is just another part of life as anything else. It has more to do with the mindset of traveling than actually “really traveling”. The experience of freedom, letting go of old believes, and so on. This is something you can experience anywhere, it all happens internally not externally. Great point.
Rese

“go to grad school or travel the world?” why not do both? i did. the two aren’t mutually exclusive by any means. i did my phd degree in england – it wasn’t always a bed of roses (huge culture shock), but overall, it was a fantastic life experience. and yes, i don’t think that travel is just some unimportant luxury – it is one of the most first-hand educational experiences one can have. plus, tuition fees are much lower in england, even for international students, and only take 1yr for a master’s and 3yrs for a phd. as for debt holding you back? please – going to grad school in the states will likely get you into just as much, if not more, debt than doing it abroad. i funded my degree the way i would if i went to grad school in the states – FAFSA. once back in the states, get your degree evaluated by IERF, which will (in most cases) say that you have the USA-equivalent degree. from england, it’s ridiculously easy and cheap to travel to other countries, esp. if you join international student organizations which run a lot of trips and have steep travel discounts.
tell your friend to do both, jeff!
Lauren Barnes

I wanted to let you know that your post inspired me. I write for my company’s blog (geared towards college students) and referenced this post as inspiration for my spontaneous trip to Belize in a few weeks. I wanted to thank you for your simple, succinct writing and let you know that you inspired action in me. It always makes me feel good to know that my writing affected at least one person’s life. Here is my article: https://www.studypods.com/blog/why-to-travel-while-youre-young-and-how-to-afford-it/
Desiree

Simple and well-written. I totally agree. Studying abroad did so much for me, and here’s what the friendships I made specifically gave me. http://losdosbesos.blogspot.com.es/ Hope you enjoy!
Pedro Jose Sanchez

Totally Agree, travelling make us feel forever young, one’s feel times satnd still… Nice Article!
Yapx

I like your perspective on travel, especially how travel gives us empathy and compassion.

However, being from Southeast Asia, combining that and your comment that ‘you may encounter the slave trade’ when you travel to the part of the world I live in sounds both arrogant and ethnocentric.

We are tired of Westerners coming here to ‘discover themselves’ and then returning to their lives feeling content and learned.

By all means travel the world. You’ll probably see a lot of things in Southeast Asia. But we do not want our cultures and lives to give you an excuse to feel better about yourself.
Glen

Travelling for me simply means showing the world what you’e got. It is more likely to say opportunity to meet preparation.
Laureene

I want to keep travelling, and even after i have a family i want for my kids to travel with me, i think its the best gift you can give yourself, allowing your mind and soul to be opened up to the world
Ashley S.

Obviously traveling is great, but I think you fail to see (or at least mention) the REALISTIC side of the matter. You’re talking about young adults, recent grads, traveling the world. The average college debt is about 120,000, and you’re suggesting doing it regardless of whatever sacrifices are necessary? Traveling “just because you want to” isn’t a good enough reason. There ARE reasons to regret it, aside from the experience.

Also, saying to someone who wants to attend grad school that doing so will “kill their dreams” is false and arrogant. There are just so many factors…

This article sounds like it was written by someone whose parents pay for everything. Don’t associate, or compare, huge opportunities like graduate school with traveling. Eventually, traveling may not be a regret, but it could absolutely become a handicap or delay for the future. Traveling is great, sure. Most things involved with it are very important to learn. But if you’re going to attack other options, write a more well-rounded article.
- Al Sterett
  
  well rounded articles are boring and not worth reading
Anonymous

My story with began, I loved my my boyfriend so much but he never loved me rather he travelled with another girl to unknown destination, I was all over the internet trying to find who could help me out with my situation but no results at all or little signs, I have to admit I was about to give up on him, then one day I was making a search on a google i found dr.marnish@yahoo.com in the internet where he had helped many girls who had the same issue with me, when i contacted him he said he will help me and just as he said after But 3 days after the the spell was done, I received an email from my boyfriend and that’s when things really changed he stopped his bad habit, We came back together and I was astounded because so many say they are the best but can’t back it. but dr.marnish really surprised me with his spell, i want to testify today about the seriousness of dr marnish
Harrington, England
- Al Sterett
  
  wtf?^
Charles Rahm

I started my world travel at the age of 36, a bit late, but who cares!
Now I’m writing my own travel stories or rather experiences on an own blog. I love it and no regrets, even though my income is not very high, but I just don’t care as I realised how unimportant all that stuff – like insurances, cars and whatever more – is to me.
Marwan Gomaa

How can i travel when my parents want me to finish high school and then go to university and then work. and also Jeff you know how much “seeing the world” costs in money, you make it sound so simple and i wish it was

3 Reasons to Travel While You’re Young

“Yeah, but…”

The life you’ve always wanted

1. Traveling teaches you to live an adventure

2. Traveling helps you encounter compassion

3. Traveling allows you to get some culture

“What if I’m not young?”

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3 Reasons to Travel While You’re Young

“Yeah, but…”

The life you’ve always wanted

1. Traveling teaches you to live an adventure

2. Traveling helps you encounter compassion

3. Traveling allows you to get some culture

“What if I’m not young?”

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