Why Travel is the Best Mirror You’ll Ever Own

Pack a Bag, Find Yourself

I used to think self-discovery was something that only happened in yoga retreats or at the end of a Nicholas Sparks novel. You’d gaze dramatically into the horizon, have a life-altering epiphany, and suddenly know who you are and what you’re doing with your life. But here’s the plot twist no one tells you: travel is just as much an exercise in self-awareness as it is in memorizing TSA rules about liquid toiletries.

I learned this the hard way when I landed in London for my year abroad. I had packed my suitcase with a naïve optimism—as if a surplus of cashmere sweaters and my favorite pearl earrings would shield me from culture shock. Spoiler alert: they didn’t. But that year, along with countless adventures since, taught me that travel isn’t just about new places; it’s about the new perspectives and truths you uncover about yourself.

Here’s what hitting the road (or a few airports) taught me about, well, me.

1. You’re Never Fully Prepared—but That’s Okay

On my first solo trip to Paris, I confidently (read: foolishly) told myself, “I know French. I took three semesters of it. I’ll be fine!” Fast forward 24 hours, and I was standing in the middle of a bustling Montmartre café, trying (and failing) to order a simple croissant. What came out instead was a poetic mix of high school French and sheer panic: “Je voudrais un… uh, bread... avec, um, carb vibes?”

The truth is, travel is a humbling reminder that you can’t anticipate everything. Your phone might die at the worst moment. You might lose your passport (or, if you’re me, accidentally pack it in your checked luggage). But you learn to adapt—to laugh at your mistakes and figure things out on the fly.

And honestly, isn’t life a bit like that? Whether it’s navigating a new city or a budding relationship, you’ll never have all the answers up front. Instead of stressing about what could go wrong, just trust that you’ve got what it takes to figure it out when it does.

2. People Are Basically the Same Everywhere

I’ll admit it: growing up in Atlanta, where small talk is an art form and Southern hospitality reigns supreme, I wasn’t sure how I’d connect with people across the globe. Would I be too warm? Too chatty? Would my drawled “y’all” sound out of place in, say, Lisbon?

What I discovered, though, is that no matter where you go, people are people. They may speak different languages or eat breakfast at what feels like a scandalously late hour (I still can’t get used to Europe’s 10 AM café culture), but they laugh at the same jokes, light up when you show genuine curiosity, and bond just like we do here at home.

During one trip to Charleston, I ended up swapping stories with a fellow traveler at a rooftop bar. She was from Stockholm, but we connected instantly over the universal truth that a bad date is oddly better—and funnier—when there’s good cocktails involved.

Relationships, romantic or otherwise, boil down to connection. And traveling helps you see how beautifully alike we all are, no matter the scenery.

3. Travel Teaches You What You Really Want (and Don’t Want)

Picture this: you’re sitting on a Venetian gondola, the sun dipping into a pink-orange haze, and your gondolier is singing softly in Italian. Ideal, right? Well, not if you’re me, awkwardly perched on said gondola with a college boyfriend whose idea of romantic conversation was listing his top five favorite spreadsheets. (I wish I were kidding.)

That trip taught me that just because something looks perfect on the outside doesn’t mean it feels right on the inside. I’d dreamed of Venetian sunsets and wine-drenched dinners, but the person sitting across from me made me realize that shared experiences only matter when you’re with someone you actually connect with.

Or to put it another way: gondola rides are great, but sharing them with someone who makes you laugh until your cheeks hurt is even better.

Travel strips away the fluff and lets you focus on what really matters. Whether it’s figuring out who you want by your side or what destinations light your soul on fire, it’s a crash course in authenticity.

4. Not Every Moment Will Be Magical (And That’s Okay)

Traveling isn’t all postcard-worthy moments and Instagram caption gold. Take the time I tried to hike in Asheville while breaking in a new pair of boots. By the time I made it halfway up the trail, I had blisters so bad I ended up hobbling into a nearby diner, wolfing down fries, and Googling ways to rent an ATV. Not every picture-perfect plan pans out, but you’ll often find the best stories in the so-called “failures.”

Funny thing is, that hike gave me more insight into myself than any idyllic mountain vista could. I learned that I’m not a "push through the pain" person. I’m a "ditch the trail and embrace the diner" person—and guess what? There’s no shame in that.

It’s the same in relationships. Not every date will be fireworks and swoon-worthy gestures. But those little imperfections—the rain-soaked walks, the off-key karaoke nights—often make for the best memories.

5. Home Is More Than a Place

After living abroad and traveling to countless cities, I realized something surprising: the places I loved most weren’t always the most glamorous. They were the ones that felt like home—not in a “these streets look like Atlanta” way, but in a “this feels good to my soul” way. Like the way Charleston’s pastel streets whispered stories from centuries past, or how the Savannah squares felt alive with moss-draped trees and friendly chatter.

Home is a feeling, not a zip code. It’s where you let your guard down, laugh until you snort, and feel most like yourself. And here’s the kicker—it doesn’t just apply to geography. Home can be a person, a moment, or even a state of mind.

Lessons Worth Every Mile

Travel has shown me more about myself than I ever could have imagined—what I value, what I need, and even what I’m willing to laugh about when things don’t go as planned (looking at you, lost luggage). And the best part? Every new trip, whether it’s a weekend in Savannah or an adventure halfway around the world, rewrites the story of who I thought I was.

So, pack a bag—not just with the essentials, but with your curiosity, openness, and willingness to embrace the unexpected. You might not always get the Instagram-perfect trip, but you will find something better: a clearer picture of the person you’re becoming, one destination at a time.