Ever Dream of Freedom, Adventure, Wanderlust?
Ever Dream of Freedom, Adventure, Wanderlust ?
Hey! Thanks for stopping by NoShoesTraveler!
My question to you is have you ever Dreamed of Freedom, Adventure, Wanderlust ? Well if you have you come to right place. I have always dreamed of those things myself. I also had an interest in writing so while in school and College I wrote for the school and then college newspaper and literary magazine. At one point I gave some thought that maybe one day I could write for National Geographic visit great exotic places of the world. Have great adventures discovering new civilizations. Live a nomadic writers life, dreaming of a Hemingway – Freedom, Adventure, Travel is what I had in mind. All this long before blogging and internet was a thing. Their was few places a person could make a living writing about travel and adventure back in those days. Then life started to happen and happened fast for me. Marriage, Children a career. My interest in writing faded as adult hood set in. I had to pay bills and pay them fast so the care free lifestyle I thought I wanted wasn’t in the cards for me. Travel the world with just what I can carry on my back and a camera in my hand would have to wait.
Now in my late 40s, I have experienced a few life changing events (as all of us do later in life) that really made a serious impact on my life. I became more interested in the beauty of life and everything around me; less interested in pursuing career goals and making money. I started taking photographs, mostly of my dogs Amos and Asher, then of beauty around me. Through a cameras lens the world opened up for me. I then became more interested in travel and photography, realizing I have stories, adventures, and lessons learned that go along with every photo I take. As I poured through the travel blogs of the world, I noticed there is a large concentration of bloggers who somehow left the rat race behind to travel the world full time. Sounds Amazing Right? A life of Freedom, Adventure, Wanderlust!
I would like to say that’s my story; I would like to say I figured out the secret to life; I would like to tell you my wife and I walked out of our careers; sent my son a check to pay off his college tuition; found a travel tutor for my daughter; and we are happily Globe Trotting the World, sipping on Chai yen in Thailand, writing this blog.
But alas, I live in the real world, or the world before the Millennials invaded. This blog is for those of us who work, live, and love to travel. This blog is about how to experience life, on a working man’s budget and time frame. I share my photos, travel experiences, tips and recommendations to help and inspire other people to get out there and discover the world, discover yourself.
“Travel is the great leveler, the great teacher, bitter as medicine, crueler than mirror-glass. A long stretch of road will teach you more about yourself than a hundred years of quiet introspection.”
I want to inspire all of you no matter what your age or financial situation. I hope to help you make travel a priority in your life. I can honestly say everyone can afford to go somewhere once a year – even if all you can do is hop on a bus to New York City, Los Angeles, or Cleveland!
I have read several articles that say not traveling enough is one of the biggest regrets people have in life. Check out this USA Today article if you don’t believe me.
https://www.today.com/health/biggest-regrets-older-people-share-what-they-d-do-differently-t118918
Their advice: Travel is so rewarding that it should take precedent over other things you spend money on. Travel when you’re able to. Just go! It doesn’t have to be luxury adventure travel.
“If you have a choice between a kitchen remodel and a trip, I say take the trip.”
Ok, maybe your still on the fence…
What if I told you your Doctor recommends it? That’s right! Traveling is good for you.
Five Reasons Why Travel Is Good For Your Mental Health
Check out this Forbes Article written by Noma Nazish for Forbes
5 Reasons Why Travel is good for you
1. It’s a great stress buster
Taking a break from the daily hustle and bustle is essential for your mind to relax, recharge and rejuvenate. And what better way to do so than to pack your bags and cross wanderlust-worthy destinations off your bucket list? Traveling promotes happiness and helps you take your mind off stressful situations
2. It helps you reinvent yourself
Experiential traveling, particularly to a foreign country, can help you re-evaluate and reinvent your life. Exploring new places can also give you a fresh start if you’re recovering from a major transition in your life. ( I know it did for me) I put a trip to France off due to my Grandmother passing away. Then unexpectedly my mother passed away 7 months later. I felt I couldn’t put the trip off another year and I was glad I didn’t. That trip was exactly what I needed.
3. It boosts happiness and satisfaction
Apart from the obvious fact that you don’t have to go to work, traveling gives you the opportunity to step back and clear your mind. According to a Cornell University study, the anticipation of a trip can increase your happiness substantially, even more than the anticipation of acquiring something tangible, like a new car.
4. It makes you mentally resilient
Going and living somewhere where you feel excited and intimidated at the same time can help you toughen up mentally and emotionally. ( I experienced this in both Costa Rica and France as they were both self guided extended vacations where we were on our own in a rental car making our way through a jungle, or in a Subway trying to figure out one of the oldest cities in Europe. )
5. It enhances creativity
Studies have shown traveling stimulates creativity when you engage with the local culture of that place. Merely visiting a new city or a country snapping a few photos from a Big Red Bus isn’t going to cut it. You got to take time to experience it. Eat local, shop local, attempt to speak the language the best you can.
So if you ever Dream of Freedom, Adventure, Wanderlust ? Lets make travel a priority in your life. Just Do it.I would also like to connect with other bloggers and people who love traveling or anyone dreaming about traveling and hasn’t been able to make that a reality in life. We are here to help get you up, get you out and get you exploring.
I would like to make NoShoesTraveler not just a blog but a state of mind a way of life. Kick your boots off grab a pair of sandals or No Shoes at all and head out into the world. Forget buying a new TV take a trip, take a year off that kitchen remodel take a trip.
JOBS FILL YOUR POCKET BUT ADVENTURES FILL YOUR SOUL.
