Traveling Far To Reach A Close Distance - My Family Travels
05_2
Scholarship_winner_trophy

Travel has always taken place within the human race, raising the question: what drives the need to travel and why is the pursuit of travel never ending amongst our kind?

 

â–º  best video 2012 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship

â–º  Honorable mention 2012 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship

Signing Up
     I learned the trigger for mankind’s adventurous aspirations when I signed up for a program with Colorado Youth at Risk, called Steps Ahead. CYAR told ninth graders (like myself at the time) that once we committed to the program we would be provided with a mentor and a community that would always have our back. Of course that is not what perked my youthful interest. What had me sold was the promise of a three day trip to Buena Vista in the mountains with free food, games, and a ropes course. But in the end my journey wasn’t unforgettable because of recreational activities, it was because of what I learned about myself and the bonds I had made in the process.
 

Day One
     Somehow my curiosity over powered my shyness when I boarded a travel bus with vaguely familiar faces. The adult chaperones advised us to drink plenty of water to avoid high altitude sickness but I knew that home sickness was more likely to strike (because despite the fact that I was only going to be a short two hours away from home, I was still embarking on a seventy-hour two journey of the unknown).

Day Two
     What did I get myself into? These CYAR people actually wanted me to wake up at six in the morning for a mile run followed by blindly falling backwards off a stage into the arms of strangers, and to top it off, I was volunteered to be the first to jump from a thirty-foot high platform. I was reluctant as could be! But with the support of my new community my fear turned into courage.

  I ran the mile as fast and as hard as I could just to prove to myself that when I feel like I have nothing left… I do. I fell into the arms of strangers to teach myself to trust and I jumped from that towering platform declaring,  “I am jumping to prove that I can believe in myself for once!” because it was the first time I actually started  believing that I can be anything I want to be.

Day Three: Reaching Home
     Catalysts for human migration can range from horrible tyrannic governments and economic downfalls to needing a relaxing five day vacation. But regardless of the cause, all ventures have these intentions in common: the pursuit of a better life and self discovery.

     On the last day, as I peered out the window of the travel bus, I realized that I helped satisfy my search for a better life because I saw things inside myself that I wouldn’t have if I had stayed at home. As trees disappeared and buildings returned to view I resolved that life is a trip where we can rack up miles with destinations like Buena Vista, but in the end, travel is just a commodity for gaining experience. And as a result of my experience I found that the most priceless gain from travel isn’t exactly a trip to the farthest parts of the world rather, it is getting a ticket to a deeper understanding of one’s self and who we all are as people but sometimes in order to do so: you have to travel far outside your comfort zone to reach the closest distance — the heart.

Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.

0 Replies to “Traveling Far To Reach A Close Distance”

  • Hai

    I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks , I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?

  • www

    I could not resist commenting. Very well written!

  • Google UltraFan :)

    Hi webmaster, commenters and everybody else !!! The blog was absolutely fantastic!

    Lots of great information and inspiration, both of which we all need!b Keep em coming you all do such a great job at such Concepts
    cant tell you how much I, for one appreciate all you do!

  • PARASKEVI

    Hello!
    I am student of the department of tourism at the University of Piraeus in Greece and i am excited that we are conducting a survey about Family Travel.
    I would be really happy if you completed this quick survey:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1s1OjLYV6AtLcEgkaa6UsqtxjVCnLQ1NMjTGANmOqyAw/edit
    Thank you very much!

  • bookanyboat

    Best Family Summer Vacations. Bookanyboat helps you search for boat rentals, yacht charters and sightseeing cruises in 3 exciting destinations, including: Dubai, Ibiza and Miami. bookanyboat.com

  • international

    Exceptional post but I was wondering if you could write
    a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
    Bless you!

  • bon

    Thanks for finally writing about > How To Chhoose a Dude Ranch When Therre Are
    So Manny Chhoices – My Family Travels

  • HIRA

    Summer is the best time to visit Alaska because the days are longer as well as the temperature were warmer.
    As ones luxury cruise ship glides past creaking blue-white glacier and lush woodland, rest on you private veranda.
    The Last Frontier is a nature lover’s dream, with places like Production of essential which you can see big cats fishing trout or Queenstown with which you can witness humpback whales breaching on a whale-watching cruise.
    In Icy Strait Point, soar over the trees on the a zipline, and learn about the history of the Gold Rush in Skagway.

  • zor

    Very superb information can be found on web site.

  • canadian

    Fantastic site. Lots of useful information here.
    I am sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing.

  • zor

    Lovely just what I was looking for.Thanks to the author for taking his time on this one.

  • Beauty

    Awsome info and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is really the best place to ask but do you guys have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂

  • slo

    Hey very interesting blog!

  • Is There A Swimming Race In Middle School?

    Ahaa, its fastidious conversation regarding this post at this place at this web
    site, I have read all that, so now me also commenting here.

  • slo

    I think that what you published was very logical. However,
    what about this? what if you typed a catchier post title?
    I ain’t suggesting your content is not good, but suppose you
    added something that grabbed people’s attention? I mean How To Choose a
    Dude Ranch When There Are So Many Choices – My Family Travels is
    kinda plain. You ought to look at Yahoo’s home
    page and see how they create news headlines to grab viewers
    interested. You might add a video or a related pic or two to get readers interested about what you’ve written. Just my opinion, it could bring your blog a little
    bit more interesting.

  • zor

    Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.

  • gra

    It’s actually a cool and useful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

  • bp77

    Wow, this post is good, my sister is analyzing these things,
    so I am going to convey her.

  • zor

    You have brought up a very good points, regards for the post.

  • gra

    I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again!

  • Donte

    Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this website with us so I came
    to look it over. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
    Wonderful blog and terrific design and style.

  • Claribel Dallison

    After going over a few of the blog posts on your web page, I seriously like your technique of writing a blog. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.

  • Emanuel Hallef

    Your site is very good, I liked the information. Grateful. 10070690

  • houston

    I’m no longer sure where you’re getting your info, however good topic.

    I must spend a while finding out much more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I was looking for this information for my mission.

  • Graham Denogean

    Have you ever thought about creating an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog centered on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would value your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e-mail.

  • site

    Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!

  • emily cooper

    Do you have at least some idea how to cancel Hawaiian airlines flight? Booked tickets can be dropped online by Visiting Hawaiian Airlines’ actual webpage. explorers don’t have even the remotest clue how to drop the trip on the web, they can contact flight chiefs at Hawaiian Airlines drop ticket

  • zor

    Hi there! I just wish to give a huge thumbs up for the great information you will have here on this post. I will be coming back to your weblog for more soon.

  • Its excellent as your other posts : D, regards for posting.

  • Finch

    Great Post ! I have read your other posts which are really informative for any family traveler. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful informative information.

  • freeindexer

    Exactly what I was searching for, thank you for posting.

  • Hairstyles

    very nice publish, i certainly love this website, keep on it

  • Susan McCloud

    Many years ago, I did study Spanish in Barcelona, with a school called CIEE. I loved every minute of my month there, stayed with an older woman who ran a boarding house for students. She made us all speak Spanish at every meal. I remember eating a lot of patates fritas at her house, but I did learn a lot of Spanish (a little Catalan too) and I fell in love with Barcelona.

  • hotshot bald cop

    I was just telling my friend about that.

Comment on this article

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.