The Making of a Bucket List Traveler
In 24 years, I have surpassed my age in countries travelled.
My travels have taken me to places I have never imagined and I feel beyond blessed to be on this wild journey. I wanted to share the lifestyle of a ‘bucket list traveler’ to insight the adventurer within you and show everyone that they can cross things off of their bucket list at any age.
I get asked a lot of questions as to how and why I travel so often. How I travel is quite simple- I made it a priority years ago to see all that the world has to offer. No, I do not have loads of money nor do I get funded by anyone. Throughout college, I managed to travel by saving from a part-time nanny gig. My motto is even through rigorous life demands and budgets, you can still follow your bucket list. Now, the why is a little more complex. Travelling chose me more than I did it. This Aries babe had the fire to see all of the world since day one. I have had a passion to get to know more about the people, culture, and histories of foreign lands. I feel truly fulfilled and whole when I travel and I believe travel can open your minds and hearts to new heights if you only trust in yourself to take the first leap (or plane ride). ~
My first trip outside of the States was when I was very young. My parents took me and my four sisters to Mexico when I was in grade school. That experience to young Heather was exhilarating. Back then (and still today), I feel limitless when I travel- like I am living my dreams rather than dreaming my dreams. Since then, I was intent on exploring the world and began making a list of all of the tools I needed to achieve all of my bucket list goals. I wrote things like “buy a convo” (if you have watched The Wild Thornberries then you know what I am talking about). . I also wrote things like “maps-$5 each” (before google maps and maps.me came out) and “flashlight-$6,” in case my convo electricity stopped working. Instead of watching TV shows tailored to young girls, I watched Planet Earth, Nat Geo Wild, and Samantha Brown: Passport to Europe (with the exception of Harry Potter, of course).
Not much has changed since then, except that I have added Booze Traveler to my show list and I now pack MUCH lighter. On our week long Mexico trip in 2005, my mom made the mistake of letting me pack my own luggage. I filled a huge suitcase with Pinky the Unicorn and six other stuffed animals, all of the current Harry Potter books, and my favorite blankie. My mom later snuck back into my luggage to remove the excess so that it would shut and thankfully for everyone, I am now a self-proclaimed master of packing. For both of my month long excursions abroad and countless multi-week trips, I only brought a carry-on ( and may I add, I did not repeat a single outfit).
My parents, although nervous for my first big trip outside of the continent, have always been my biggest supporters. They always tell me 1) to be wise and safe with everything I do and 2) that they are always proud of me.
Since I started traveling, I have become more accepting, thoughtful, and firm in my being. My travels have definitely shaped me into the person I am today. I hold dear the people I have met, the sights I have seen, and the cultures I have experienced.