40 Life Lessons You Only Learn While Traveling In Europe

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When I left England three years ago, I had a set plan to move to Amsterdam and set up my life. In a twist of fate, the plan fell through within about two weeks of arriving. So, I set about on a new adventure of exploring Europe. My adventures have seen me living in Zante, Paris and Frankfurt whilst exploring this glorious continent and have taught me so many valuable life lessons.

 

Here are some I want to share with you today.

 

  1. You will become fast friends with people who speak the same language as you.
  2. Not all long-term travelers are open-minded.
  3. Let go of material things, they will only hold you back.
  4. The most important item in your life is, and always should be, your passport.
  5. It’s not about where you are for the holidays, it’s about who you spend them with.
  6. Try everything once.
  7. A journal of your travels will become more precious as the time goes by.
  8. You can never have enough pictures.
  9. You can never have enough selfies of you in front of the Eiffel Tower.
  10. Comfort over style.
  11. Say “yes” to the things that scare you.
  12. You get out of relationships exactly what you put into them.
  13. Not all friendships are built to last.
  14. The people who love you will always be there for you.
  15. You are defined by your experiences and choices, not your tax bracket.
  16. There are always five minutes to hear someone’s story.
  17. No two places are ever the same.
  18. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
  19. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
  20. Aim to live a life with no regrets.
  21. Put your own happiness and contentment first.
  22. People will change and move on, and so will you.
  23. The frequency in which you see someone does not define your relationship.
  24. There’s always time for a quick Skype chat with a loved one.
  25. It’s possible to hate and love where you come from at the same time…
  26. …As much as it is possible to hate and love where you have moved to.
  27. At some point you will be one of those people who compares everything to “back home”.
  28. It is possible to feel completely alone in a room full of people.
  29. Worrying that you have made the wrong decision doesn’t necessarily mean you have.
  30. If you aren’t scared then you aren’t doing it right!
  31. If you have an excuse now, you’ll always have an excuse.
  32. No amount of money is ever “enough money”.
  33. You do not need to be rich to travel, but you do have to work harder.
  34. People born into English speaking countries & families are extremely fortunate.
  35. Slow and steady wins the race.
  36. Expect to pay double the price if a taxi driver hears you speaking English.
  37. Know when to cut your losses and move on.
  38. Comparison is the thief of joy (thanks Theodore Roosevelt).
  39. Life can be simpler when you have less choices.
  40. You are not defined by your wealth, age or social class.

What life lessons has travel taught you?