Experience

A Guest Post By Drew Slater

Typical excuses I hear are, “it is too pricey” or I don’t “have time,” but the truth is everyone is busy and everyone is strapped for cash sometimes – so those aren’t good excuses. Quit rationalizing about how it makes sense not to do it because this one thing will change your view on life. What am I talking about?

Traveling.

Traveling throws a curve ball in your routine and allows you to meet new people, taste new food, explore a new city and learn something new about yourself. What more could you ask for?

No matter where you go – a different city, a different state or a different country – traveling shows you something you didn’t know and gives you a different perspective on life. You may think to yourself, “psh…I live in the best city ever, why do I need to go anywhere else?” How do you know? How do you know you wouldn’t like another city if you’ve never been?

I have been fortunate enough to be 26 year old who grew up in Miami and now lives in St. Petersburg to have traveled to the Caribbean, Israel, NYC, DC and Austin along with some other cities. Every single place I have visited; I have always enjoyed and have taken something away from. For example, I loved touring NYC and DC and seeing what they each have to offer, but I don’t think I could live in either.

Austin on the other hand? Austin is an awesome, awesome place. If you haven’t been, you need to go. It is known for SXSW and ACL, but you don’t have to go when it is jammed pack and more expensive to experience it the right way. In my opinion, Austin has a feel about it. A certain feel that sticks with you. The music. The food. The corkyness. It’s all amazing. It’s such an alive city, with always something to do, but also the feeling of being able to do whatever you want. There is a lot of young professionals there who are paving their own path and doing their own thing. In my opinion, it is contagious.

As someone who has a steady, good job and makes a decent salary, I left Austin wanting more. I left realizing I don’t have to be in a cube or an office building forever. I’ve always been driven person, but now I feel like it’s at a whole new level. I sat back at my desk and went back to work, but I wasn’t the same before I left. I’m different. More focused and thinking bigger than I have before.

How did I discover this new desire to want more than before? It was traveling. Traveling allows you to experience so much. Maybe Austin isn’t for you? Maybe wanting more isn’t for you? There is nothing wrong with either of those statements. But not traveling and experiencing something new and only thinking you don’t want more because you don’t know what more is – is not okay. Go visit a new city. Maybe somewhere completely remote? Even if it is somewhere you know you won’t ever live, go visit. Go see what is about. If you stay in your world and bubble, you won’t ever grow and find out all there is about you. Promise.

 “Travel far enough, you meet yourself.” – Cloud Atlas

Drew Slater is a Miami native who graduated from the University of South Florida and is currently an account executive in the marketing departments for a Fortune 500 company. He has a strong passion for education, whether it is learning or teaching, and sees education as the key to success. In his spare time you can find Drew marathon training, soaking in the sun at the beach or cheering his hometown Heat or Dolphins on TV. 

You can follow Drew on Twitter @drewhslater