Thanksgiving is over, Black Friday is behind us, and we’re all settling in for the last little push of the year before the holidays come.
If you’re reading this, it’s not unlikely that you hopped on that Black Friday deal and booked a trip (or two or three) with Under30Experiences. It’s also possible you’ve been on one of our trips before.
We all agree that traveling is powerful. But if you pay attention, you’ll realize it’s not just where you go that holds power, it’s what you do.
It’s your connection to people. It’s trying something new. It’s broadening your perspectives and getting out of your comfort zone.
NEWSFLASH!!!
You can also do all of those things in your city, or within a few hours drive.
Don't wait
Don’t wait until the next trip to do something awesome.
I know the vast majority of humans have limited vacation time, and guess what?
You don’t need to take time off to do something cool.
You don’t need to buy a plane ticket.
You don’t even need to leave the state.
Don't wait for a vacation
I’m from L.A., so I’ve been a little spoiled in this sense. There’s so much nearby, and what I love most about this city is how easy it is to leave.
I can get out to national parks (Joshua Tree, Yosemite, Sequoia) or be skiing in a matter of hours.
I can be at the beach or climb all day, or do both in one day, and drive less than an hour each way.
Being outside is my happy place, and I’ve noticed while leading trips that people tend to be the happiest after long days of activity out in nature.
But if that’s not your cup of tea, there’s all sorts of other things you can get into wherever you are.
I went to a pottery class a couple weeks ago with the family, because why not? It was 15 minutes away.
I went to a full day Thai massage workshop this past weekend - yes you read that right. Seven hours of giving and receiving Thai massage - and it was 20 minutes from the house. Because, why not?
Even if you don’t live in L.A., I can confidently say that wherever you live, there is something awesome you can do.
Even the shittiest places I’ve ever visited, (or driven through), have some really neat stuff nearby.
(I won’t name names because that’s rude. But, if you think you live somewhere shitty, then there’s still something cool there. I’ve seen it.)
Don't wait on your friends
“But Jonno, I don’t know where to start, and my friends are dumb and don’t want to do cool shit with me!”
First of all, sorry you have dumb friends. That sucks. You should do something about that.
It’s not always the easiest thing to just go do new things by yourself.
There’s something about endless possibilities that paralyzes us, especially if your friends are dumb and are making you do it alone.
But there’s also something about endless possibilities that’s extremely liberating, especially if your friends are making you do it alone.
So, don’t wait for your friends to stop being dumb to connect with people.
Don’t wait until you have vacation days to try something new.
Don’t wait months until your next trip to get out of your comfort zone.
Say yes to something new. Sign up for a class.
Go to a concert of a band you’ve never heard of. Find your nearest National or State Park and spend a day or two there.
At U30X we like to say that it’s not just about what you do on your trip, but about what travel inspires in you.
If that includes traveling again in a few months, well that’s fuckin' rad.
Keep doing it.
But don’t do nothing until then.
