I used to think I knew myself. I mean, I’d spent decades as me. How much deeper could I get? Turns out, hopping a plane—or a train, or even a particularly sketchy ferry—has a way of holding up a mirror you didn’t even know existed. Travel has this annoying-but-magical habit of forcing you out of your comfort zone, handing you revelations wrapped in turbulence, jet lag, and sometimes questionable street food. Here’s what I’ve learned about yours truly in the process.

1. I’m Not As Chill As I Thought—And That’s Okay

People give travel this romantic glow, like it’s all sunset vistas and carefree wandering. But let me tell you, "carefree" took a nosedive the second I landed in London and realized I’d confused the Underground map with an Ikea instruction manual. You know that line in Love Actually where Colin Firth says something charming yet unintelligible? That was me at the ticket kiosk trying to ask for help: flustered, foreign, and a little sweaty.

Here’s the thing—I used to pride myself on being laid-back, but traveling taught me that my “zen” has limits. And that’s not a bad thing. When you’re wandering unfamiliar territory, stress doesn’t signal you’re failing; it means you care. Travel forced me to acknowledge my control-freak tendencies, roll my eyes at myself, and eventually calm TF down. Pro tip: Always pack patience (and maybe a snack—hanger waits for no one).

2. I’m Bad (But Getting Better) at Taking Up Space

Toronto is the land of the polite elbow tuck. We apologize when someone bumps us. So you can imagine my horror walking through Barcelona’s La Rambla, where people treated personal space like a fun suggestion. Suddenly, navigating busy streets became a full-contact sport.

At first, I shrank. I’d apologize for existing—sometimes in English, sometimes in broken Spanish, occasionally in some panicked hybrid of the two. But day by day, I learned to move with purpose. Shoulders squared, head up. Somewhere between dodging Vespa scooters and accidentally bartering for a handbag I didn’t actually want, I realized that taking up space doesn’t have to mean being rude. It just means valuing yourself enough to move confidently through the world. Dating parallel? If someone isn’t meeting your energy halfway, move on. Vespa not required.

3. I’m All About the Little Things

Ah, Paris. The city of baguettes, berets, and sky-high expectations. I fully admit I went in expecting a cinematic experience—Montmartre artists sketching my portrait, accordion music swirling as I twirled in a flouncy dress by the Seine. Spoiler: real Paris is more pigeons than poetry.

But here’s where traveling shifts the narrative. In between dodging said pigeons, I had the best coffee of my life at a hole-in-the-wall café. I spent an afternoon people-watching in the Marais, chuckling at couples gesturing dramatically as only the French can. No grand romantic montage. Just these quiet, perfect moments unfolding one croissant at a time.

Back home, it’s easy to miss those quiet moments. Travel reminded me that life doesn’t have to be a blockbuster. Sometimes, it’s best when it’s a low-budget indie film—gritty, unexpected, and weirdly heartwarming.

4. I Can Stand My Ground (Even When It’s Awkward)

Nothing builds character like a haggle session at a Moroccan souk. My time in Marrakech came with a new rule: Never look too excited about a purchase unless you’re ready to pay 400% markup. One shopkeeper offered colorful ceramics at what I knew was an inflated price. My reflex? Politely accept, pay, and walk away. My brain? Demanding justice!

For the first time, I stuck it out. I thanked them, smiled, and confidently countered with an amount I could live with. The discomfort was real; my Canadian soul nearly disintegrated. But I walked away with a fairer deal—and a newfound respect for the power of knowing your worth. Whether you’re navigating marketplaces or relationships, the same rule holds: don’t be afraid to (respectfully) assert your value.

5. I Like Who I Am When I’m Lost

Let me set the scene: It’s late afternoon in Vancouver, and I’m “taking a shortcut” that spits me out miles from where I started. Totally lost, stomach growling, phone on 2%. Classic rookie move. But as I wandered aimlessly, something curious happened. I stopped panicking. I started noticing.

The way the ocean spread out like glass in the distance. The soft hum of bike tires along the Stanley Park seawall. The older couple holding hands as if the world hadn’t just thrown them 17 wrong turns. Without realizing it, I was smiling.

Turns out, being untethered forces you to be present. You’re not in control, but for once, that’s the point. This applies to dating, too, in case you’re wondering. When you stop stressing about “where things are going,” you give yourself permission to just be.

6. I’m a Work in Progress—And That’s the Best Part

If you’d asked me before London (or Barcelona, or Marrakech) who I was, I’d have rattled off a list of interests, career goals, or favorite Tragically Hip songs. But travel chipped away at those neat little labels. It gave me new flaws and strengths, crumbled my routines, and forced me to rebuild. Is that scary? Sure. But it’s also liberating.

These days, I’m learning to see myself as a story in progress. Different cities, different chapters. The beauty isn’t in how polished I am—it’s in how surprisingly adaptable, curious, and driven I’ve become. Whether I’m flagging down a tuk-tuk or trying to decode the mystery of British electrical outlets, I’m learning that the messier parts of the journey can be the most satisfying.

Final Boarding Call

Traveling isn’t just about crossing borders; it’s about crossing limits—your own, mostly. It teaches you who you are outside your daily bubble, reminding you how tangled and wonderful life can be when you lean into the new.

So here’s my advice: Book the trip. Get a little lost, eat the weird street food, haggle for the knick-knack you don’t need, and let the experience leave its fingerprints all over you. Because the person you’ll meet out there, amidst the chaos and charm of the unknown? They’re someone worth getting to know.