We’ve all heard it: “Someday, I’ll travel the world. Someday, I’ll see the seven wonders of the world and experience new cultures.” But let’s be honest for a moment. That “someday” won’t come unless you make it happen. Life doesn’t wait, and neither should you. There’s an undeniable thrill about packing your bags, hopping on a plane, and stepping into the unknown. And the best time to do it? While you have your health! Not when you’re old, creaky, and trying to keep up with a group of tourists snapping selfies at a snail’s pace. No, the time is now, my friend.
Why Health Matters in Travel
I hate to break it to you, but the body does wear out. And while no one wants to face their mortality, it’s the cold, hard truth. Travelling when you’re healthy and energetic means you can make the most of your trip. Think about all the places you dream of visiting: trekking up Machu Picchu or Base Camp, swimming with dolphins in the Maldives, or hiking the Italian countryside. These are experiences that require you to be in your prime! Imagine trying to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro in your 70s—yeah, not exactly a walk in the park.
Besides, travelling when you're young (or young enough) means you can handle those long flights, endless hours of sightseeing, and even that crazy food you’ll try and maybe regret later. And, oh, the spontaneity of it all! You can wake up in Paris, decide to drive to a nearby village on a whim, or hike a secret trail a local told you about. Try doing that when you need to make sure your medications are sorted, and your arthritis isn’t acting up. It’s a whole different ballgame when you’re still limber and ready for adventure.
I’m in my 50’s and after breaking my ankle and injuring my knee (stupidly doing jumping lunges), I’ve realised that if I hadn’t backpacked to India in my 20’s, there is no way I could do it now; the running for trains, buses and climbing or hiking in the mountains.
I know I have responsibilities; kids, pets but I still make the time to do things I love and enjoy. I love red wine, so I go to different vineyards (thank goodness I live in the Niagara region where there are so many vineyards to choose from) and okay, a bottle costs more than I would normally pay, I do it anyways because it’s the experiences that count!
Do NOT Stress About the Money
I get it—pound and dollar signs can be intimidating. Travel isn’t always cheap, and saving up can feel like an Everest-sized task. But if you’re waiting to be a millionaire before you take that trip, you might be waiting a very, very long time. The trick here is to not obsess over money but to make it work for you however you can. There are so many ways to travel on a budget that it’s almost embarrassing to use money as an excuse.
That five-star hotel in Bali might look tempting, but do you really need all that luxury? No! What you need are the experiences. I’ve stayed in places that cost next to nothing, and guess what? Those are the trips I remember most! It wasn’t about the thread count of my sheets or how swanky the lobby was—it was the people I met, the adventures I had, and the stories I took home.
And let’s talk about flight deals. There are apps, websites, and even credit card points that can practically throw you onto a plane for free if you know how to use them. Sign up for alerts, keep your eye out for flash sales, and don’t be afraid to hop on that last-minute flight if the price is right. You can always make the money work, even if it means picking up an extra gig or skipping your daily Starbucks run (yes, I said it!).
But whatever you do, do not stress about money so much that you don’t live your life. Life is meant to be enjoyed, and you deserve to see the world. So book the trip, figure out the logistics later, and I promise you’ll thank yourself.
Experiences Over Money—Always
When you're lying on your deathbed (I know, grim image, but stick with me), do you think you’re going to be wishing for more zeros in your bank account? Will you wish you had spent more time grinding away at the office, clocking in those extra hours for a slightly fatter pay cheque? Spoiler alert: NO. You’re going to be thinking about the memories you made. The experiences you had. The people you met along the way.
Travel enriches your soul. That’s cheesy, I know, but it’s true. It’s one of the only things in life you can buy that actually makes you richer. You come back from a trip with new perspectives, a broader understanding of the world, and more stories than your friends and family will ever want to hear. When you travel, you live a thousand different lives in the span of a week or two. One day you’re exploring ancient temples, the next you’re eating street food from a vendor with the most infectious smile. Each experience adds another layer to the tapestry of your life.
Let’s be honest: stuff doesn’t matter. That shiny new phone, that trendy handbag—it’s all temporary. Experiences, though? They stick with you forever. You’ll forget about that designer jacket, but you’ll never forget the feeling of standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon or hearing the waves crash on a beach in Penang. You’ll remember the taste of fresh pasta in Italy, the thrill of your first solo trip, and the friendships you forged over a shared plate of meze in the Greek Islands.
This Is For the “I’ll Do It Later” Crowd
This message is for everyone who thinks that as soon as they retire or achieve this goal or that goal, they will then do what they’ve been saving for all their lives. Your kids can work things out for themselves. Yes, we want to give them everything, but if we don’t do the things that are important to us, we’re definitely not giving them a good example.
You’ve worked so hard to make those pounds or dollars—trust me, I get it—but here’s a wake-up call: money can disappear in seconds. I’ve seen it happen, and that’s when it hit me. We’ve got to learn to be a little selfish and enjoy the things we really want in life. You don’t get a do-over. You only get one life, so you’d better make sure it’s packed with memories that you want, not just what you think you should be doing for everyone else. Life your live, not what is expected of you by your family, community or anyone else!
Honestly, I don’t want to be on my deathbed thinking about all those places I wanted to visit and never did. These are not memories for anyone else but for me. Sure, be sensible and save money, but holy crap, friends, use the fine china, go on that holiday, use those expensive 20,000-thread-count bed sheets. You will never regret it.
The Hidden Cost of Waiting—Depression
Here’s the thing no one talks about: when you keep leaving and putting off the things you want to do, you get depressed because you don’t have anything in your life other than the mundane everyday tasks. It’s not just about the money, the logistics, or the excuses—it’s about the emotional toll it takes on you. Social media doesn’t make it any easier either. You’re scrolling through Instagram or Facebook, seeing your friends and family off on these gorgeous holidays, and you’re left sitting there, wishing it were you. STOP wishing it was you. Stop living vicariously through others.
Wishing isn’t enough, and let’s be honest: it’s exhausting. Every time you say, “I wish that was me,” you’re adding a layer of frustration and regret to your life. So what’s the solution? Start doing the things you’ve been putting off. Even if it’s just a short weekend getaway or a small adventure close to home, taking action will shift your mindset and give you back the control you’ve lost to endless scrolling and comparison.
Stop Waiting—The Time Is Now!
Listen, life has a funny way of sneaking up on you. One day, you're daydreaming about your next holiday, and the next thing you know, a decade has passed, and you still haven’t gone. Time is one of the most precious resources we have, and once it's gone, it’s gone. Don’t waste it by waiting for the “perfect time” to travel because here’s the secret: there is no perfect time. Something will always come up. Work, family, finances—there will always be a reason not to go. But if you make it a priority, if you decide that travel is a must-have, you’ll find a way to make it happen.
Start small if you have to. Maybe you can’t jet off to Japan tomorrow, but you can take a weekend road trip or visit a city you’ve never been to. The point is to start. Once you get that travel bug, trust me, you’ll find it hard to sit still. And you’ll wonder why you ever waited in the first place.
So, if you're reading this, and you’ve been on the fence about booking that trip—this is your sign. Pack your bags. Get your passport. Start making memories. Because someday is today, and your adventure awaits.
If COVID has taught me one thing, it's LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND PRECIOUS!
Final Thoughts
Travel is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. It’s how we experience the world, learn about different cultures, and connect with people we’d otherwise never meet. It’s how we remind ourselves that there’s more to life than the daily grind, more to the world than our little corner of it. And you don’t need to be rich to do it—you just need the desire to go and the willingness to make it work. Share those memories and adventures with your kids and grandchildren, they will thank you for it!
So what are you waiting for? Travel while you have your health, stop stressing about the money, and collect experiences and memories that will make your life richer than any bank account ever could. You deserve it.
