26

you’ve never been.

different versions of you will be called into existence. the version of you that accomplished the thing against all odds. the version of you that lost what you could not live without. the version of you that had to rebuild after your hopes and dreams were reduced to rubble.

the more versions of you that you allow to come forward, the more confident and authentic you will become. the more you resist at every juncture, the more afraid and less compelling you will be.

why do we value travel so highly? it’s not because being a tourist is fun. it’s not always fun and every place won’t be your favorite. we aren’t always prepared; we overpack, underpack, and sometimes they lose your luggage. it’s because we love people who have been somewhere and made it back to share, wide-eyed with wonder, deeper and more still, with the certainty that all roads lead us back to ourselves.

in this life, some of us will journey within and some of us make the journey without. not everyone gets to go everywhere. but make sure you go somewhere. say yes to the extra ticket, especially if you’ve never been. jump on the train or be dragged. be at the station on time even if you don’t know which bus is yours. it will stop for three seconds and then that version of you has passed.