Have you ever boarded a plane feeling like you had life all figured out, only to land and realize you might not even know yourself that well? Travel has this sneaky way of holding up a mirror, showing you sides of yourself you didn’t even know existed—or maybe didn’t want to face. For me, it’s been equal parts humbling, exhilarating, and downright hilarious.
Let me tell you: the passport stamps might fade, but the lessons stick with you. Here’s how exploring the world taught me more about me—and maybe how it can teach you a thing or two about yourself.
1. I’m More Resilient Than I Thought
Somewhere between hauling my luggage up a five-story walk-up in Rome (no elevators, people!) and taking the wrong metro line in Tokyo during rush hour, I learned that panic won’t get you anywhere. Literally.
Travel throws you curveballs. Your Airbnb might not look anything like the photos (shoutout to the impossibly tiny Paris bathroom I mistakenly booked), your flight might get delayed, and don’t even get me started on lost luggage. But despite the chaos, you adapt. Quickly. You figure it out because you have to.
That same resilience spills over into life and relationships. When things get messy—and let’s face it, they always do—you learn to breathe through it instead of spiraling. Now, when a date ghosts me after two texts, I channel that same “figure it out” energy: deep breaths, drink some wine, que sera, sera.
2. I Value Connection More Than Convenience
Let me paint you a picture: I’m sitting in a bustling street-side café in Lisbon, sipping an espresso, and attempting (poorly) to communicate with the waitress in my broken Portuguese. I’m laughing, she’s laughing, and though we don’t share the same language, we somehow understand each other. That moment, as small as it seems, flipped a switch in me.
Sometimes, we think connection is about saying the perfect thing or being perfectly understood. But in reality, the effort we put into understanding someone else—whether in travel or love—is what matters most. Love languages, cultural quirks, or stubborn habits don’t come with subtitles, but when you prioritize connection over convenience, you’ll always find a way.
3. My Comfort Zone? Overrated.
Before traveling, I liked to think of myself as adventurous… within reason. Sure, I’d try a new restaurant or experiment with a bold nail color, but throw me into an impromptu snake-handling festival in Thailand (yes, this happened), and suddenly my adventurous spirit felt more like a cautious, Type A planner who wanted Google reviews first.
Traveling obliterated my need for everything to be just so. I’ve eaten things I couldn’t pronounce, gotten lost in cities with street signs I couldn’t read, and said yes to spontaneous invites for no other reason than “why not?” I’ve learned that the magic happens when you step off the script—something I try to remember on a date when the conversation veers into unexpected territory. (One time, a guy spent our whole dinner explaining his theory that pigeons were government drones. I didn’t buy it… but it made for a great story.)
4. Everyone is the Star of Their Own Show
One of my favorite things to do while traveling is people-watching. There’s something hypnotic about observing strangers in their element. Mothers wrangling their kids on a gondola in Venice. Elderly couples dancing in the streets of Cartagena like it’s nobody’s business. It’s this beautiful reminder that everyone is just trying to figure it out.
It shifted my perspective in relationships, too. Dating isn’t just about me—what I want, need, or feel. The person across from me? They’re the main character in their own story, with hopes, fears, and quirks I might not even understand yet. Compassion comes easy when you realize everyone’s navigating their own plot twists, just like you are.
5. I’m Not as Fancy as I Thought
Let’s talk about the death of my high-maintenance persona. Before boarding a 13-hour flight to Johannesburg, I envisioned myself stepping off the plane looking radiant and refreshed, like a Beyoncé album cover come to life. Reality? Not even close. My hair was frizzy, my knees ached from sitting coach, and my face was so shiny it could’ve doubled as a runway beacon.
What I learned from all those messy, unglamorous moments is this: I’m not above eating street tacos in Mexico without a napkin or wearing the same leggings three days in a row while hiking in Zion. And honestly, no one cares. In the same way, dating doesn’t require a perfectly curated version of you. The right person will vibe with the real you—even if that version is mid-flight, tired, and covered in crumbs.
6. Gratitude Changes Everything
Travel humbled me in a way few other experiences have. There’s nothing like visiting a rural fishing village in Vietnam, seeing how people make the most of so little, and realizing how much you take for granted. That gratitude bleeds into everyday life—yes, even when that everyday life involves heartbreak or situationships.
When I’m tempted to throw a pity party (Dear universe, why do I keep dating men who think therapy is optional?), I think about the joyful simplicity of some of the people I’ve met on my journeys. Gratitude won’t erase heartache, but it does remind you there’s still beauty to hold onto, even in the hard stuff.
7. Growth Happens When You’re Uncomfortable
In Marrakech, there’s a food market that’s not for the faint of heart. It’s crowded, loud, and overwhelming, with stalls offering everything from fragrant spices to sheep heads (yes, actual sheep heads). My initial instinct was to nope out of there immediately, but instead, I leaned in. I walked through the chaos, tasted the unfamiliar, and yes, mentally apologized to every sheep I’ve ever met.
The lesson was clear: avoidance doesn’t lead to growth. Whether it’s in a foreign market or an argument with your partner, discomfort is where transformation happens. I’ve stopped running from the hard conversations. They’re messy, sure, but they’re also where connection deepens.
8. You’re Never Really Lost
That one time I got hopelessly lost wandering Prague’s Old Town, I thought it was the end of me. My phone was dying, my map was useless, and I was convinced international embarrassment was written all over my face. But, eventually, I stumbled upon a tiny café with the best trdelník (Czech pastry, look it up) of my life.
What I took away from this—and what I apply to life and love—is that being “lost” is just an opportunity to find something unexpected. So if you ever feel adrift, whether in a new city or in your love life, remember this: sometimes, the best things happen off the beaten path.
Closing Thoughts
Travel showed me more than new places; it showed me myself—my resilience, my quirks, my capacity for joy and patience and connection. Whether it’s savoring tea in Istanbul or staring at the stars in Marfa, every trip doubled as a mirror, reflecting the person I am and the person I’m becoming.
So pack your bags, try the weird food, embrace the chaos, and let the world teach you who you are. Because if there’s one thing I know for sure? You’re way cooler, stronger, and more adaptable than you think. And if you can handle Magellan-level detours and questionable tacos, you can handle whatever life (or love) throws your way.
