Traveling is one of the best things you can do with your time. You get to explore the world and try new things like diving with whale sharks or skydiving. Or both! When you’re traveling, it’s the perfect time to be free and live a little. Let loose and get wild.

I am a seasoned traveler. I have been to 20 different countries, lived abroad, and have spent extended periods of time on the road. Through all of my travels, I’ve learned and loved a lot. I’ve been through trials, and times I just wanted to turn around and go home. There were also times when I wasn’t quite sure where home was anymore. Those were the best times.

It was all wonderful and difficult, but I learned some valuable tips along the way. Like never forget your CBD edibles. But in this article, I’d like to share four more of the most valuable tips I have for anyone traveling to new and exciting places.

Don’t Be Shy

I’m an incredibly shy person in my day-to-day life. I’m polite and friendly, but I tend to shy away from any real meaningful conversation. I used to think that I simply wasn’t interested in anything anyone had to say to me. It turns out this couldn’t be further from the truth. I had just been so understimulated from being in the same place for so long, that I didn’t have much interest in anything besides making money or climbing mountains.

When I hit the road I was forced to open up. Traveling by yourself gets lonely, and on the occasion, I would feel myself longing for some sort of human interaction. This was a feeling I wasn’t familiar with, but I went with it. When I came across people I started striking up conversations. All of a sudden I was becoming someone who interacts with others! I realized that I wasn’t a proud misanthrope as I had often told myself before. I was merely a caterpillar waiting to blossom into a social butterfly.

Go With The Flow

This may seem like some hippy advice, but it’s one of the best approaches you can take to live in general. If you’re able to go with whatever life throws at you and truly accept it, you might have achieved nirvana. This is a tip for you to practice because it most certainly requires it. 

When you get a flat tire and you’re 50 miles from help, the ability to go with the flow and smile about your situation will serve you well. The ability to accept whatever life throws at you is sometimes referred to as acquiescence. This is the ability to shift your perspective to see good in even the worst things. 

You shouldn’t expect to be able to achieve this right away. Again, it’s a practice and requires time. That being said, this is an important thing to strive for, especially during your travels.

Take Chances

If you wanted to play it safe you would have stayed home. If you’re out traveling, you need to take chances. No adventure has ever started without someone making the decision to take a chance. It’s scary and it’s intimidating, but it’s also one of the most rewarding parts of traveling.

I was spending a few months in Corsica, an island near the french riviera famous for its steep ocean cliffs and rugged backcountry mountains. The mountains (Bavella) in Corsica are subject to floods, harsh thunderstorms, and are filled with aggressive boar. Needless to say, the thought of climbing a 2,500 ft vertical rock face in a setting as volatile as that of the Bavella is nothing short of terrifying. 

Without a bit of risk-taking, I would have never experienced such a brilliant climb. There was a 12-mile hike with 4,000ft of elevation gain just to get to base camp. We did the hike 3 times each way to ferry enough water up to base camp. On the morning of the climb, we woke up at 3:00 am, had a sip of whiskey, and hit the trail. It was another 8 miles to hike to the base of the climb. We hustled as best we could through the hike and climbed Punta Tufanata de Paliri in the early hours of an incredible thunderstorm. All thanks for taking chances!

Put Away The Camera

This is one of the most important pieces of advice I can give you. Stop looking through the camera lens. Your eyes will provide you with a more valuable memory. I remember going to see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and more people were faced away from the painting than looking at it. They were taking selfies with the Mona Lisa. So put away the camera and get out there!