Young, Broke, and Growing

Ten things travelling in my early 20s has taught me.

I remember daydreaming about travel even before I ever owned an iPhone. As a middle schooler, I’d spend hours on my blue iPod Touch, scrolling through Pinterest boards filled with travel inspiration and camper van photos. My family didn’t travel much, so I never had the chance to chase those dreams growing up, which only made me want it more. I looked forward to the day I’d be an adult, free to explore the world on my own terms.

It’s funny how boldly younger me dreamed, and how little I understood about how the world actually works. And somehow, here I am two years into building a life around travel, still dreaming big, and realizing somehow I know even less than I did back then. But what I do know is this: travel has brought me closer to the person I always hoped I’d become. It’s stretched me, humbled me, and taught me more than I could ever fully unpack, but here is my best attempt.

Ten things travel has taught me.

1. I know less than I thought

   Travel has made my world feel so much bigger. It’s opened doors, sparked possibilities, and introduced “what-ifs” I never would’ve considered before I left home. That’s both exciting and overwhelming, because now, I’m not entirely sure where my place in the world is. But I’ve also come to see that the possibilities are endless.

   Learning about different cultures, histories, and ways of life has made me realize just how small my world was before. And the more I experience, the more I understand how much I still don’t know.

   

2. I love movement

   The more I’ve explored the world and myself, the more I’ve realized I’m not someone meant to stay still. I need motion, growth, and change, both in my everyday life and in who I’m becoming. While I know I won’t be hopping countries at full speed forever, this lifestyle has made me think deeply about what fulfillment actually looks like for me. I have energy, curiosity, and restlessness that can’t survive on autopilot and too much routine starts to quiet the parts of me that feel most alive.

   

3. I can create a life anywhere

   One of the most beautiful things I’ve learned is that I have the ability to find comfort wherever I go. The location matters, but it’s your mindset and willingness to adapt that truly shape the experience. I haven’t always felt happy while traveling, and I’ve definitely landed in places I knew weren’t for me. Travel has taught me how to make peace with where I am, to embrace what is.

   While there really is no place like home, I’ve learned how to carry a sense of it within myself. Too bad I don’t have some ruby red slippers to skip plane tickets and airport lines.

   

4. I can choose how I want to live

   From saving money and getting visas to planning trips and starting over again and again, it’s exhausting and stressful at times. But it has also shown me how capable I really am and how much I can handle. This lifestyle has reminded me that the possibilities are endless, and with enough will and determination, almost anything is within reach.

5. You can’t control everything and you don’t need to

   To follow number four, there are two sides to this truth. I’m the kind of person who’s relentless when I set my mind to something. I’ll try everything to make it happen. But I’ve learned that there are limits. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, the outcome is out of your hands.

   Whether you’re waiting to hear back from a job recruiter or immigration authorities, there are moments when all you can do is wait and hope for the best. The world will keep spinning, even when things don’t go your way. I’ve had to learn that there’s freedom in choosing to embrace whatever the world gives you. Take advantage of what it does, and let go of what it doesn’t.

6. Time is strange when you travel

   Some days fly by in the blink of an eye, especially when life is busy or you’re having fun. That pace can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to soak it all in or make the most of limited time in a place. It’s something I’ve found stressful at times, trying not to let time slip away.

   What’s even stranger is looking back. A year ago feels like a lifetime ago. Somehow, time moves fast and slow all at once. How does that even make sense? I don’t have the answer. But what it’s taught me is just how much can change in a short time and how much time we actually have- even when it doesn’t feel like it.

   

7. Beauty is everywhere

   It’s in places, in people, in feelings, in silence, in chaos, and even in the not-so-good moments. Travel has taught me how to notice it, even when it’s not obvious.

   To be honest, our first few months living in Ireland were really hard. Mat and I were technically homeless for six weeks, and it took a long time to find work. Being stressed and broke can cloud the beauty of a beginning, especially in a new city.

   But even in the mess, there were moments I’ll never forget- the struggle of dragging my suitcases down narrow stairwells, across cobblestone streets, and into taxis. The thrill of splurging on a couple of drinks and cigarettes on a Friday night because that was our whole entertainment budget. The random cat-sitting gig just to have a roof over our heads.

   

   Now that the hardest part is behind us, I see that time differently. It was messy and uncomfortable, but there’s beauty in it too. And honestly, I don’t know if I’d want it any other way. Well… maybe just a little.

   (Don’t worry, American friends—the cigarettes were part of the Irish immersion. I’ve since retired that phase. We’re breathing fresh air now.)

8. We’re different, and the same

   Everywhere I’ve been, life looks different- but also surprisingly familiar. Before I started traveling, I imagined life in other countries would feel completely foreign. I’m not sure what I expected, but I thought the differences would be bigger.

   And yes, the details change. But people still wake up to go to work. They spend time with family. They fall in love, search for meaning, and stress about things- often the same things we do. We’re all more alike than we think. At the end of the day, we’re all just human.

   

9. Connection matters most

   The people I’ve met have made me fall in love with places. The views are beautiful, but it’s the friendships and connections that make a place unforgettable. Over time, this has reminded me just how deeply connection shapes meaning.

   

   As much as I’d love to wander forever, something has become increasingly real: my mom and the rest of my family are only in one place.

   Damn it, Kenna, why’d you have to be such a good mom?

   

10. The present is everything

    This might be the most important thing I’ve learned. I’m a dreamer, and I am a sucker for nostalgia. But the truth is, you miss out on life when you’re too caught up in what might be or what used to be.

    It’s a habit I’m still working on- learning how to just be here, now. Because at the end of the day, you only get one life and nothing is permanent. The best way to live it is by paying attention to what’s right in front of you.

A few final thoughts

While I definitively don’t have everything figured out, travel has opened my eyes to some incredible experiences and truths. There’s so much waiting for you- whether it’s in a new city, a new state, a new country, or simply a new perspective.

I’m sharing this as both a personal journal entry and a small nudge for anyone who might need a gentle push to take the leap, make a change, or finally go after that thing you’ve been dreaming about. You don’t need to have all the details in place. You just need to start.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read my brain dump. I’d love to hear if any of these reflections resonated with you, whether or not you’re someone who travels. Let me know if one in particular has been on your mind lately, or share a lesson you’ve learned that shaped the way you live!