We get it, you’re a vagabond. A free spirit. Wanderlust without abandon. But unfortunately you’re also a cliché. Programmed to travel, millennials take to the streets to proclaim their restless need to see the world. Sprawled all over social media, pop culture quotes in swirly fonts are pasted all over eye-catching graphics of mountains and beaches. Sure, they’re pretty. But they’re also played out. Vow to make your message different. Make your life mission mean something. What makes you special?
“Not all those that wander are lost.”
A line from the poem All that is gold does not glitter, written by J. R. R. Tolkien for The Lord of the Rings novel, there’s no more overused travel quote than that which describes one’s incessantly itchy feet in search of…something. You don’t know what, but it’s out there. The quote is more about the curiosity to explore, rather than a propensity to settle for the good job and white picket fence in the suburbs. Make it about you and your mindset as an adventurer, instead of waiting for the world to provide you with meaning.
Replace it with “She had the soul of a gypsy, the heart of a hippie, the spirit of a fairy…”
Travel’s the only thing you can buy that will make you richer.”
Sure, you want to seem like possessions don’t matter, that you don’t need nice stuff. That you could hop on a plane on a moment’s notice with just your backpack and passport. Being materialistic might’ve been cool 10 years ago, but we know you still care about brand names. They may not be luxury designers, but North Face, Patagonia and other labels are just as coveted. Let’s all just agree that we like things, but prioritize experiences – it’s more realistic.
Replace it with “Collect moments, not things.”
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag
We all have some version of the invariable bucket list. The endless rundown of places to see and experiences to have before we kick it. A huge part of pop culture spawned from the books, 1000 Places to See Before You Die, and movies like the Bucket List, let’s make a pact to stop doing things just to check them off a list. Life is not a competition. Racking up achievements doesn’t prove anything. Take the time to appreciate each culture. To document and remember each experience, rather than rushing on to the next. Whether you’re in competition with yourself or as a way to maintain a certain image online, trust us, living in the moment is much more meaningful in the long run. Share your story with the world, that’s how you can make an impact.
Replace it with “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” –Ibn Batutta