Travel has changed my life. I know it sounds cliché, but I truly believe its power is understated. When we live in our little bubble, we only know what’s possible within it. The people and places around us shape what we value, how we live, and what we think is normal. For a long time, I stayed within those familiar boundaries.

In America, the dream was suburbia: a big house, well-behaved kids, a college education, high-paying jobs, fancy cars and gadgets, convenience, and consumption. I played the part. I checked all the boxes. But underneath it all, something felt off—empty, unfulfilling.

It was travel that widened my lens. Slowly, in ways both big and small, I realized there were other ways to live and entirely different values to embrace. Children could stay up late and be part of your adult life. You could take the summer off to savor time with family. Work didn’t have to define your worth. Meals weren’t just fuel—they could be slow, meaningful experiences shared with people you love.

What I learned along the way is the importance of following “the signs”—those quiet nudges from your heart that steer you toward what feels true, even when it goes against what you’ve been told. The world around us is full of "shoulds" and "coulds," all designed to keep us within the lines. But when you listen to that inner voice and trust your instincts, you’ll find a path that feels more aligned with who you are and what you value.

I don’t know what your life looks like or where you’re reading this from. But maybe my story can inspire you to look beyond your current horizon and start looking for your signs. To realize that the way you live your life is a choice, and that your reality is something you design.

It’s not easy. Saying “no thank you” to the shoulds and coulds of your environment will ruffle feathers. But if you take the time to discover what makes you happy—what truly makes you tick—and take action toward that, you’ll find a fuller, more joyful version of yourself in the larger world around you.

Trust the signs. Follow where they lead. The world is waiting.