I used to think traveling was just about snapping cute pictures by a famous monument and ordering the most unpronounceable item on the local menu. But let’s be honest—travel has a way of humbling you, smacking you upside the head with lessons you didn’t even know you needed. Like the time I almost missed a flight from Madrid to Rome because I mistook the security line for a Starbucks queue. Spoiler: I didn’t get my coffee, but I did get real familiar with my shortcomings under pressure.

Exploring new places has been like holding up a mirror to who I really am—flaws, strengths, and everything in between. So let’s unpack (pun absolutely intended) what travel taught me about myself, one lesson at a time.

Lesson 1: I’m Not as Chill as I Thought I Was

Pre-trip, I ooze big “go-with-the-flow” energy—until I’m standing in a European train station where every sign looks like a geometry puzzle you failed in high school. Exhibit A: That time I studied abroad in Spain and tried to buy a ticket to Segovia but accidentally ended up in Santander, roughly 247 miles in the wrong direction. When the train conductor bluntly told me, “Señorita, you’re on the wrong train,” I full-on panicked.

It was a humbling moment for someone who once thought of herself as spontaneous and adaptable (or at least that romanticized Instagram version of spontaneous). I learned that it’s okay to freak out a little, but then you’ve got to channel your inner Dora the Explorer and pivot. Grab a map, ask for help, muster your courage, and figure it out. If I can navigate a foreign city with a stubborn streak and five years of middle-school Spanish, you can, too.

Takeaway: It’s fine to ask questions, even the kind that make you feel dumb. Vulnerability opens doors, and sometimes, it even gets you a free snack from a sweet travel guide who feels sorry for you.

Lesson 2: Food Makes Everything Better

People don’t travel thousands of miles for flavorless chain burgers (no shade—sometimes those fries hit). What opened my eyes was the idea that food isn’t just fuel; it’s storytelling on a plate. Every meal tells you who people are, where they’ve been, and what they care about.

My abuelita always said, “El amor entra por la cocina” (Love enters through the kitchen), and let me tell you, after one bite of patatas bravas in a Madrid tapas bar, I was ready to marry… whoever made them. Travel taught me that food isn’t just something to enjoy. It’s how you connect with people, especially when your grasp of their language is limited to “Hola” and “La cuenta, por favor.” It’s how I learned to appreciate the nuances of someone else’s life and culture—and honestly, how I should be carrying that same spirit of appreciation back home.

Takeaway: The next time you sit across from someone—whether it’s a Tinder date or a 20-year partner—ask them about their favorite childhood meal. If that doesn’t get the stories flowing, I don’t know what will.

Lesson 3: Your Comfort Zone Isn’t as Cozy as You Think

Before Madrid, my idea of stepping out of my comfort zone was trying a new shade of lipstick. Living across the Atlantic on my own? That was another level. From fumbling over Spanish idioms to boldly walking into unfamiliar plazas with all the fake confidence of a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, I learned that comfort zones are really just glorified safety nets.

But here’s the thing about nets—they can trap you as much as they save you. For me, saying “yes” to awkward conversations, random friendships, and last-minute Flamenco shows cracked open parts of myself I didn’t know existed. It taught me to let discomfort morph into confidence. It’s a skill that matters just as much when navigating relationships. Every great partnership starts within that wobbly space of “Does this person think I’m cool, or am I blowing it entirely?”

Takeaway: Growth doesn’t happen in cozy places. So next time someone invites you salsa dancing, say yes—even if your last awkward attempt at dancing was in a middle-school gym.

Lesson 4: You’re Allowed to Go at Your Own Pace

If travel taught me anything, it’s that you don’t have to approach life like it’s an episode of “The Amazing Race.” While everyone in college was ticking off “10 countries in 10 days!” itineraries, I found my stride lingering in Madrid, letting cobblestone side streets and obscure art galleries fill my afternoons. I was slower than most, but I realized I preferred savoring the moments over collecting passport stamps like Pokémon cards.

This was a revelation, especially in a culture that glorifies making “moves”—whether it’s in dating, work, or personal goals. Travel gave me permission to take my sweet time, to be deliberate and not just busy. Similarly, life (and love) aren’t sprints; they’re marathons. Going slow doesn’t mean you’re not moving. It just means you’re doing it with intention.

Takeaway: Don’t let other people rush your journey. It’s okay to say, “I’ll get there when I get there.” Whether it’s hitting major life milestones or making it to Machu Picchu, your pace is valid.

Lesson 5: Gratitude is the Greatest Souvenir

Here’s the thing I didn’t realize until much later: Traveling doesn’t just introduce you to new places—it makes you see the old places with fresh eyes. Coming back to Houston after Spain, I felt a strange affection for the same bayous and taquerías I once took for granted. It reminded me that finding joy in tiny, everyday moments is as life-changing as any giant leap toward the unknown.

In relationships, too, gratitude for the little things changes everything. Travel taught me to appreciate the overlooked: the warmth of a stranger’s kindness, an unexpected sunset, the love in my mom’s overstuffed tamales. And in relationships, isn’t that what keeps the spark alive? It’s remembering to notice the everyday beauty of someone choosing to show up for you, again and again.

Takeaway: If the Eiffel Tower gets “wow” energy for standing tall all these years, so should the person who remembers how you take your morning coffee. Don’t forget to appreciate both.

Final Boarding Call

At the end of the day, travel isn’t about the pictures or the passport stamps—it’s about the human you become along the way. It challenges, humbles, and even flusters you, but that’s the beauty of it.

So whether you’re booking your first out-of-town trip, navigating a new relationship, or just figuring out life in general, my advice is this: Lean into curiosity. Ditch the perfectionism. Let yourself get lost. And most importantly, listen to what each experience teaches you—not just about the world, but about yourself.

Because in life and love, the best journeys aren’t about the destination. They’re about who you grow to become along the way.