Horizons

Dear young people: Travel. If you feel like a lost soul, get on a plane, get on a bus— hitchhike if you must—and go somewhere you can get truly lost. If you live each day with the creeping fear that your world is getting too small, go out there and see how big it actually is.

Don’t organize it. Don’t let anyone else organize it for you. Stay in hostels, couchsurf, camp out in the wilderness. Go where the trip takes you. Visit places you want to see, not because you have to see them. This is your adventure. Don’t let anyone prescribe it.

Don’t think too much about where you want to go. That doesn’t matter. If you don’t understand the culture, you’ll meet people who will show it to you. If you don’t speak the language, you’ll learn it. It will come slowly at first, but one day you’ll go to a bar with the locals, get drunk and speak it fluently.

You’re going to be scared. You’re going to take risks. You’re going to see things and do things you never imagined you’d see and do. You’re going to have ridiculous conversations about the meaning of life with other lost souls at 3 a.m., and the text won’t matter as much as the context.

You’re going to fall in love, and get your heart broken. You’ll probably get robbed, maybe even worse. You’ll lose things you cared about. And you’ll survive it.

Most importantly, you’re going to grow up. That part will creep up on you. You’re going to become more confident, more self-assured. You’re going to learn how to live, how to make mistakes and how to get over them.

Be careful, though. Travelling is addictive. When you get home, home will seem small and uncomfortable—like a pair of pants you’ve grown out of. The people you’ve always cared about will seem different. Suddenly, all those shiny, youthful experiences you had will be dulled.

This will make you sad. You’re going to long for the get-up-and-go. You’re going to miss living out of a backpack. You’re going to feel a little bit stuck.

Don’t panic, though. Don’t ignore those feelings, either. Embrace them. Use them to make decisions about your future. Where you want to live, what career you choose, who you spend your life with.

There’s no rule that says you must sit still. If you have to keep moving, do. Recharge, save money and spend time with the people you love. Then make a plan. A good plan. And go.

And if you want to stay where you are? That’s fine too. Once you’ve broadened your horizons, at least you’ll know you chose the right view.

So go to school. Start a family. Save money for retirement. Your families and your teachers are giving you good advice. But whatever life you choose for yourself, young people, don’t wait until your life is sorted to understand yourself.

Travel.

mihal@mihalzada.com