I’m sitting in a dimly lit café in Essaouira, Morrocco. This mythical city on the Atlantic which inspired so many 1960’s musicians including Bob Dylan’s epic song ‘All Along The Watchtower’ hums outside. But inside, the air is thick with the scent of spices and the hum of life. I’m a Brooklyn girl, born and bred, but my soul? My soul belongs to the world. I’ve always believed that money is better spent on experiences than on things. A car? A retirement fund? Please. Give me a plane ticket and a backpack any day.
When I was younger, I saved every penny I could. While my friends were buying the latest gadgets and planning for a future that seemed so far away, I was plotting my escape. I wanted to see the world, to taste it, to feel it under my feet. And let me tell you, it’s been worth every single cent.
Traveling isn’t just about seeing new places. It’s about learning, growing, expanding your horizons. It’s about proving to yourself that you can navigate the chaos of a foreign city, that you can communicate without words, that you can find beauty in the unexpected. It’s about independence. When I travel, I’m not just a tourist. I’m a part of something bigger. I’m a citizen of the world.
I remember my first solo trip. I was 22, fresh out of college, and terrified. I landed in Bangkok with nothing but a backpack and a sense of adventure. The city was a sensory overload – the smells, the sounds, the heat. But I loved it. I thrived on it. I learned more in those first few weeks than I had in years of school. I learned to trust myself, to rely on my instincts, to embrace the unknown.
And the stories. Oh, the stories. Like the time I got lost in the souks of Marrakech and ended up sharing tea with a local family. Or the time I hiked through the jungles of Costa Rica and stumbled upon a hidden waterfall. Or the countless nights spent in hostels, swapping tales with fellow travelers from all corners of the globe.
Travel has taught me that the world is both bigger and smaller than I ever imagined. It’s vast and diverse, full of wonders and surprises. But it’s also connected, intertwined. We’re all part of the same human experience, no matter where we come from.
So, to anyone out there who’s young and wondering if it’s worth it – it is. Save your money. Travel. See the world. Buy experiences, not stuff. Because in the end, it’s the memories, the stories, the lessons learned that will stay with you. Not the car, not the retirement fund. It’s the moments that take your breath away, the people you meet, the places you see that will shape you, that will define you.
And trust me, there’s nothing more liberating, more empowering, than proving to yourself that you can do it. That you can navigate the world on your own terms. That you can live fully, deeply, passionately. So go. Travel. Explore. Live.
Writer Lena Rivera, affectionately known as “Brooklyn” by her friends, is a 30-something wanderer with a heart rooted in the vibrant streets of New York. A fierce advocate for living life through experiences rather than possessions, Lena has spent the last decade exploring the far corners of the globe. Her journeys have taken her from the bustling markets of Marrakech to the serene jungles of Costa Rica, each adventure adding a new chapter to her ever-growing collection of stories. With a sharp wit, an acerbic sense of humor, and an unquenchable thirst for discovery, Lena writes with the same passion she brings to her travels. She believes that true independence is found not in the comfort of routine, but in the thrill of the unknown. When she’s not on the road, Lena can be found in her Brooklyn apartment, planning her next escape and inspiring others to see the world through her evocative, powerful prose.
