GO OUTSIDE!

I grew up with overly protective parents, aunts, and uncles. Every time I would ask permission to go outside and attend some outdoor camping with friends, they would try to scare me over questions like 'What if you get an accident on the road?' or 'What if someone who is out of his mind will try to take your things and kidnap you?' or  'What if you get hurt or lost or drown in the water if you go swimming? Who's going to be there to look over you and save you from all those troubles?' And, especially that I'm a girl, the more the risk. Because my parents think girls are vulnerable creatures--the weak ones or the sweet ones or probably they just think I couldn't handle it. It's kind of true in the matter of strength, but we can be as strong as men.

My parents do trust me in taking a leap of faith in enjoying myself in some camping or whatever kind of adventure. What they can't trust are the strange people who have bad intentions or the ones who's going to take advantage of me. And I might end up getting hurt, betrayed, alone, or worse lose my one and only chance of living--my life. I completely understand about their reaction. I am also aware of the risk. But the FUN! I can't miss out the fun! The experiences, the memories, the challenge-everything. How am I suppose to learn if I'm always at home and not knowing how both beautiful and dangerous the world can be.

I have never traveled alone. I don't think in the future I'll be traveling alone too but who knows. I want to walk around a city and get lost while I take hundreds of photos to souvenier my trip. I want to engage in a conversation with a local, try and savour their taste of food, dance and sway in their culture, pretend that I'm a local at some point, and simply be part of their world. It sounds so good. All I need is to GO! Make plans or just as exciting as going outside to somewhere new.

It doesn't mean I want to escape my life because here, in my home, everything's already given to me. I want a new chapter. An adventure. Alone or with a partner, it doesn't matter. I just have to believe and have faith that no matter what comes on the road, I can manage it on my own. I know that in traveling we have to take a lot of precautions. It will not be easy, but it will be fun and seeing the world, in person, is just beautiful. Going out there and building a great journey will probably change my whole life.

So if you have to make a choice, choose it wisely. Remember! You will be leaving things behind.
Don't go in doubt. Go when you are ready!