Choose to Travel. Choose to Live.

At CASACOM, something we all have in common is our sense of adventure and joy of learning and exploration. Recently, I shared my love of travel with our team of Toronto, highlighting some of my experiences in Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Laos, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.

For me, travel is a passion. So what is it about the idea of travelling that is so compelling to me? It only seems natural to want to explore as much of the world as I can.

My most memorable experience
Why do I travel? This question can best be answered by telling the tale of my most memorable day travelling thus far. My friends and I were in Luang Prabang, Laos visiting Kuangsi Waterfall along with many other tourists. On our way back, our tuk tuk driver (South East Asian version of a cab) asked if we wanted to stop in a village to meet some locals. We of course jumped at the opportunity. What we figured would be a 15 minute stop turned into a daylong visit. We spent the day playing with the children and soaked in their positive energy. We didn’t have anything to give them, but they were so grateful we took the time to play with them. These kids will forever have a special place in my heart. They taught me you don’t need a lot to be happy; the right attitude and a big smile will get you pretty far.

Travel with a purpose
The next time you jet off to a destination, think about it. What do you want from your travels? Are you looking to vacation or are you looking to travel? For me, these terms are not interchangeable and offer an important distinction. Travelling is an experience. You’re there to learn with an open-mind and to subsequently better yourself. A vacation allows you to relax; it’s about the “self” and closing yourself off from the rest of the world. That’s not to say you can’t do both.

Vacation or travel?
In 2012, my travels shifted from that of a “vacation” to true “travelling”. I embraced an open-mind and immersed myself in different cultures. I pushed my limits, gained perspective on life and opened my thought process. I was given more than I could have ever asked for. And I’m not done yet.

Travelling has changed my life. It has taught me so many life lessons that I will forever be grateful for. Travelling has taught me to be patient. It has changed my attitude towards life. It has taught me to respect others. It has made me more confident, easy-going and more flexible.

I hope you’re inspired to open your mind and really think about your next trip. What does it mean to you? The more open-minded you are, the more you’ll allow yourself to experience. On your next trip, I dare you to travel. Explore. Try. Challenge. Change. Learn. Ask. Meet. Conquer. Give. Share. Live your life. I promise you won’t regret it.