It’s kind of ironic that this guest post is appearing while I am currently on holiday myself, but today I would like to share with you a think piece about the privilege that comes with being able to travel the globe so freely brought to you by one of my favorite bloggers Jane of deluminators. Travel is an incredible thing, and I am so blessed to be able to have the ability to do so in my own life, but it is important to remember that not everyone has this luxury and that self exploration and growth are not limited to those who are able to hop a train or plane and traverse new lands.

Best, Rae

It's OK not to travel - guest post by Jane of deluminators.blogspot.com for lovefromberlin.net

People who know me or read my blog would know that I like to travel. It’s a fun thing to do – you get to experience new places, take some nice pictures, and develop all kinds of new problem solving skills when something (inevitably) goes wrong. My savings would look a lot more impressive if I hadn’t gone on those trips, but that’s not something I think about; the money spent has been worth it to me. However, I don’t think I acknowledge enough that this is an extremely privileged position to be in.

It's OK not to travel - guest post by Jane of deluminators.blogspot.com for lovefromberlin.net

Like it has impacted what clothes we buy and the food we eat, social media and blogging has changed the way we travel, and the way we talk about travelling. For the most part, I like it. You get to hear about and see places which aren’t in the guidebooks, or mightn’t have popped up on your radar in your own research. But, like other categories of aspirational blogging, it’s not always applicable to real people in the real world. I’m talking about the travel blogs and Pinterest quote graphics which keep portraying travel as the ultimate and one true way to grow and learn. It’s almost bizarre how out of touch some of them are. No matter how budget you go, travel is still an expense – money, time, and commitment-wise.

It's OK not to travel - guest post by Jane of deluminators.blogspot.com for lovefromberlin.net

Travel isn’t an essential for everyone. Travel doesn’t have to be a priority for everyone. Not everyone has the means or the opportunity to travel, and if you don’t, there’s nothing wrong with that. Contrary to what Pinterest is telling you, you’re probably still trying your damn hardest to live a fulfilling life. Even though the aforementioned blogs and quotes will make it sound like the main barrier to travelling is an individual’s lack of inspiration or motivation, there are so many actual real life things that get in the way. Like having only just enough to pay for rent and food. Like having to care for a relative, or being unwell yourself. Like having a passport that makes it difficult to travel, because of the pure chance of which country you were born in. Or maybe you’d just prefer to spend your money on clothes or makeup or a car or an actual house, because those things are important to you.

It's OK not to travel - guest post by Jane of deluminators.blogspot.com for lovefromberlin.net

Travel makes me happy, and travel is what I’ve chosen to spend most of my money on. Maybe blogging so much about travel, then turning around and writing this post, makes me a hypocrite. But I would never sit here and tell you that travel is the number one path to growth or fulfilment, because that’s only something you decide for yourself. And the flip side to this is that if you do want to travel and do have the opportunity – take it. Because not everyone does, and there are so many things that might get in the way in the future.


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Stay conscious, Rae

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Jane

Jane is a junior doctor from Sydney who blogs at Deluminators. She loves travelling, food, clothes, and spending entire afternoons reading. Her favourite hobby is to photograph and blog about the above.

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  • This post came at such the perfect time Jane and Rae. Travel is a big priority for my husband and I and we have made a lot of choices in life to ensure that it continues to be. Not everyone understands that though. Not everyone understands why we don’t want to spend our savings on a down payment or why we cut expenses wherever we can and sometimes, being on the side of it that I am, I can get frustrated with the questions and disapproving comments. This post reminded me that it’s okay to have different perspectives and place value on different things.

    • You’re definitely right, it all depends on priorities and we shouldn’t judge or feel superior to others for them!

  • I love and would love to continue travelling in the future but lately, instead of using the term travel, I prefer “discovering new places” because I’m a fresh grad and I don’t have the means to go to all these places that I want to….yet. Sometimes I get pressured that I am growing older and I haven’t been anywhere outside the country yet but I am slowly realizing that (for me) it’s about discovering places I haven’t been before. It doesn’t matter if it’s far or near from where I am right now, I still consider it travelling. But I will never close any door that might give me any opportunity to travel oceans away from my country. And I totally agree to what you said that “Not everyone has the means or the opportunity to travel, and if you don’t, there’s nothing wrong with that.” it’s just a matter of priority :)

    marielle was here

    • That’s very true. I did have going to far-flung lands in mind when I wrote this, but discoveries closer to home still count.

  • this is a really important post. I got mislead a few years ago into thinking travel and escape would make me happy, when it didn’t.. instead I got a proper apartment and car that made me feel independant and truly fulfilled. I’ve did my share of backpacking for months on end, but smaller trips are more valuable to me now. thank you, jane!

    • That’s so awesome Lisi! Getting an apartment and car takes just as much discipline as travelling.

  • Traveling is definitely one of the best things you can do in life! indeed I’m thinking of taking a year off.

    have a lovely day!
    ❥ Vicky | The Golden BunInstagram TGB

    • A year off would be the dream!

  • What a lovely post and a lovely attitude. I have always loved to travel but barely found opportunities to do so as I was struggling with school and money. I know travel won’t guarantee my happiness, nor will it complete me. But I love the act of discovering new places and keeping my eyes open for things I’ve never come across before. It’s a filler for my curiosity mostly but also because I know only a few things of the world and that bit is mostly portrayed by the Internet or the big screen. Sometimes I get bored of my life and want to travel but when I do, I’m not always feeling much better. And since I unfortunately struggle with the bills and student loans, I don’t always get to travel far. But once money flows, you’ll most likely find me on trains or planes to someplace new.

    Hugs,
    Hannie from Missing Wanderer

    • I’m definitely in the same place as you, Hannie!

  • Thank you for pointing this out, and it’s especially relevant over summer break! I think there are obvious expenses to travel, like plane tickets and hotels, but we may forget about the expense of living costs while traveling (transportation, food, laundry, etc.). Over spring break I bought a week pass for the train, which was pricey, but worth it if you used it, which I did. I figured, I was really saving money. But I didn’t take into account all the spending that came with going into the city all week. I’ve been more conscious of that this summer. // I think staycations are a great way to change the view and “travel” on budget :) -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s

    • Yeah travel does suck up more money than expected doesn’t it! And true, I guess changing perspective on what counts as travel is good too!

  • Couldn’t agree more. Do I wish I could travel? Yes. But right now I am still a broke college student and don’t have the means to and it’s completely okay! Hopefully I can one day, but for now I really enjoy reading other people’s travel diaries and experiences :)

    Enclothed Cognition

    • Agree 100%! Hope you do get to do so when you get the chance!

  • This is such an important point that I feel like many people miss. There have been times in my life where I’ve been able to travel more easily than others, either because of geographic location, school breaks, or saved up money, and while I feel like I’ve been able to learn and grow from those trips, I am very aware that they are not the only experiences that will give you those opportunities. I always look for chances to travel, and I don’t understand those who have no desire at all to travel (even if they have the means), but I try to keep in mind that traveling is not a be-all-end-all experience for everyone.

    Kate | girlinthebluejacket.blogspot.com

    • Definitely, I’m firmly in the have-the-chance-will-travel camp but it’s not the only way to live.

  • This is a great guest piece, Rae (and Jane, of course!). I absolutely love travel, but it’s a privilege. A lot of my friends have moved to Silicon Valley where pay is “great” (I say that sarcastically because while the salary is high, the rent and cost of living is significantly higher), but so many of them are in an ultra-privileged la-la land where everyone travels the world. They don’t learn about where they are going and they don’t appreciate it. And on top of it all, they try to make others who don’t jump on a plane to Japan for the week feel bad about themselves because “traveling is how you learn about yourself.”

    I was EXTREMELY lucky to roadtrip around the US the past summer for an entire month. I’ve been a broken record because of how incredible of a blessing it was to have that opportunity. I absolutely love traveling. And I love read about it. But I’m glad to know that there are others (including two very accomplish self-proclaimed travel-loving women) who recognize that traveling is a privilege and it isn’t the only way to grow and develop.

    /overlylongcomment

    http://kierstenchalhoub.blogspot.com

    • Glad you enjoyed it Kiersten! And the way you approach travel when given the opportunity definitely matters too.

  • I love to travel but right now I don’t have any money to afford going away and visit a lot of new places.. But while reading this post I felt motivated and normal, like you said, it’s ok not to travel. Thanks Rae and Jane for doing this guest post, your posts are always so fulfilling!

    http://www.blossomikebana.com

    • Glad you liked the post Paula!

  • My money is spent on travelling too, but I can totally understand why travelling may not be for some people.

    Loving these guest posts.

    Hannah | Oh January

  • This is a great piece by a great blogger. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Germany this summer, but have always felt envious of friends and strangers going to beautiful, interesting new places. I worry, too, if I’m traveling the “wrong” way, being a cliched tourist, or if I’m really making the most of it. I don’t have answers, but I did have fun and believe I changed for the better.

    Furthermore, I wonder if prevailing blogging trends have skewed my view of what it means to travel. I’m not too sure, but I know I can’t stand another collage of the “perfect” travel capsule wardrobe to this or that destination (with little accompanying explanations but plenty of aesthetic) or another personal acquaintance talking about doing the “Europe thing.” I am critical of the modern Grand Tour among American college students, envious that I did not have the chance to study abroad, proud that my sibling has done just that, and confused by what it means to be “worldly” and what life revelations can be found.

    Wonderful post. Thanks, Jane/Rae!

    • Thanks Lulu! Sometimes I wonder if I’m travelling the “right way” as well, and I guess that could be a whole other post. I think as long as you enjoy yourself and approach things with an open mind, it’s all the right way.

      Haha don’t get me started on those (usually essentially impractical) travel wardrobe collages!

  • Rae – hope you are enjoying your travels =o)
    Jane – Loved this post you wrote. It’s so true how travel is gift and not all are able to experience it or even spend their money on it. I admit I also spend a lot of my money on traveling but there isn’t one trip I have regretted because of what I saw, did or learned during it. You write beautifully and hope you continue to go on adventures =o)

    http://www.dreamofadventures.com/

    • Thank you, glad you enjoyed the post! Same here, I haven’t regretted a trip as of yet!

  • I loved this post! It is so true that whether or not we travel much shouldn’t define whether or not we live a fulfilling life. So many people online make it seem like travelling is easy, and after a while it seems like you’re missing out on everything if you stay in one place. But yeah, Jane’s right, it depends on your income and everything else. Besides, even you don’t travel much, it doesn’t mean you don’t have anything worthy to blog about! :)

    Christina | julyplusaugust.me

    • Definitely, the internet and FOMO has made it so much worse haha. Glad you enjoyed it Christina!

  • It’s always a dream of mine to travel but unfortunately, I do not have the money. I’m lucky to have been able to visit some incredible places many haven’t but likewise, I’m jealous of people who get to go to Europe etc. It’s life and it’s terrifying but that’s okay. Traveling is a gift and we can only hope we get to go everywhere and back again <3

    xx   BASH   |   go   say     H E Y   B A S H

    • It definitely is dependent on so many things out of our control sometimes!

  • HI JANE I LOVE YOUR BLOG <333 and thanks rae for featuring jane! <333

    i think nowadays there are pressure in travel the furthest, gone to places where people haven't traveled yet. and i think it's important for women, as the one who get to raise the kids (by choice) to see as much world as we can so we can pass it to our offsprings. what people failed to see is, yes, to travel is a privilege. many people couldn't do it with their own finance condition or have something better to prioritize about. i love everything about this post i'm almost cry. traveling or the distances you've gone to shouldn't be a measure to someone's life worth.. yes you're probably stuck in the country you're born in but that doesn't mean you couldn't live a fulfilling life. no one shouldn't be looked down just because he/she doesn't travel. it's a privilege. be grateful for that.

    xx http://tanaditya.co.vu

    • <33 Thanks Tannya! You make a good point that travel can be an exercise in experience and independence for women in particular.

  • Nancy Wilde

    Interesting post :) I actually feel very frustrated that I don’t travel as much as I want, there’s always this fear that I’m going to die with so many places yet to see… Also feel a bit guilty because apparently living in pricey Dublin instead of with my parents back home is a priority right now, and it doesn’t really help my savings… Why can’t we have it all?! I mean, some people can and my envy is my worst enemy because it enables this destructive thing called comparison, so instead of becoming dreamy when I browse through Pinterest Wanderlust folders, I just get bitter – and that’s the sad part. I’d like to think that things will get better, that I will have time and money at the same time… but oh, well. I just don’t think it’s fair that some people get to see the world and others don’t, generally speaking. I work as a receptionist and the amount of young people who are traveling with their parents credit card is astonishing. Rant over now ahah. All that being said, I must say that both Rae’s Love From Berlin and Deluminators are incredibly inspiring in every way (the travel snaps are beyond maaaarvelous), and they’re definitely more explorers than the tourist no one wants to be. And yes, a lot of things contribute to our self-discovery and evolution, not just traveling – it takes one open mind to acknowledge it alright! xxx

    • Gosh, thinking about all the places I still want to see stresses me out haha. It’s so dependent on luck and privileges, like you point out, so I think it’s unfair to use it as a sole measure of one’s life experiences.

  • Jane your post sums up a lot of what I’ve been feeling lately. Travel is a personal choice we make and is a privilege. I’m lucky I am in a position where I can jump on a plane and go on holiday, it’s something my husband and I really enjoy – exploring different cultures, change of scenery, weather, lifestyle but I know it’s not for everyone. It’s easy to get envious of other people’s lifestyle and travel snaps but it’s only a snap shots, we don’t know the circumstances or sacrifices they might have had to make. Thanks for sharing girls! xx

    Hanh | hanhabelle

    • Yep, social media/blogging can really take things out of context nowadays! Thanks for reading :)

  • I feel like travelling really becomes like a status symbol and I do not realy like that because travelling too, like any other kind of consumerism, is not like really environmently friendly. I used to travel alot and like two years ago my husband and I decided to only take an airplane once a year out of respect for the environment. I found it hard in the first place but got used to it. Since, my travelling schedule changed and I actually enjoyed it as much anyway. You do not have to go far to experience great adventures, you even can in your own backyard if you are just willing to :) Nice post!
    Thank you so much for your last comment! Sending much love :)
    Xx

    Rosa Larissa Klara

    conscious lifestyle of mine

    • I’ve not thought of it that way and you’re 100% right that it’s become a status symbol, and environmentally unfriendly to boot. That is actually such a good point, thanks Rosa!

  • Great post! I love to travel as much as I can because I love discovering new places, new cultures and even trying to speak new languages! However, I agree that it is not always possible or even desirable for everyone. I am also really lucky because I live in France and I can easily drive to the UK, Belgium, Holland and Germany for the weekend and Spain and Italy for longer breaks, so I don’t have to go too far!
    Julia x
    http://www.thevelvetrunway.com

    • Very envious that you live so close to so many different places!

  • Laura

    I think I’m the only one who hates traveling. I like to see new places and experience different cultures, but the process going to new place is so annoying. It comes down to the fact I hate flying. Its always drama to travel for me…

    Laura
    Pink Frenzy

    • I hate the process of getting to places as well, so many things that could go wrong!

  • Adele Miner

    I love this post, it really makes you think. x

    adelelydia.blogspot.com

    • Thanks Adele!

  • You’re right, no matter how budget you go, it’s still an expense. I personally love to travel as well. But yes, to each his own. Being a #jetsetter shouldn’t be a standard that society sets.

    http://www.jeannechristinemarie.blogspot.com

    • So true, hashtag and all haha.

  • A very grounded and wise perspective. Really interesting read, Jane. Nice idea for a guest post, Rae.

    Buckets & Spades

    • Thanks Mat, glad you liked it!

  • I like this a lot. I guess the main thing is to just pursue your own dreams and not let anyone tell you how you should live your life or what you should dream about. :)

    • 100% agree Louise!

  • I loved this post, and I totally agree! In my real life, in the community that I work in, there’s an expectation that anyone who has the chance to pack up their life and travel for years should snap up the opportunity. I have a nice place and a nice job and nice friends and I’m reluctant to leave those things behind in order to travel. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that! I also doubt that travel *always* results in the kind of self-growth or self-discovery that pinterest suggests it does, and I totally agree that you can achieve these things without leaving the country xx

    Jessthetics

    • Definitely nothing wrong with that, agree with everything you’ve said Jess!

  • I’ll always have this wanderlust and I prefer spending my money on
    travel too rather than clothing etc. but you’re right about travel and
    it’s that travel is not the only path to grow or to fulfillment.
    Good writing Jane! Xx Ice Pandora

  • The Reader’s Tales

    Well traveling has always been part of my lifestyle since baby – i’m also a person who just feel happy sitting in my garden and read a great book….lovely post ; )

  • Aww, this is great that you guys are working together because you both rule! :) And you’re totally right Jane, as someone who obviously has spent quite a bit of time travelling as well, it is life changing and a great opportunity to grow, etc, but I have learned some of my biggest lessons about life and myself while being at home in Sydney.

    The whole aspirational blogging/social media thing is definitely an issue. You and I (and Rae) are lucky/privileged enough to have been born into a situation where we have have been able to make our own decisions about travel and it has been relatively easy for us and that’s just not the case for everyone. And if we all only grew and learned while we were travelling that would leave a LOT of time at home for most people when they’re seemingly not doing or learning anything, which just isn’t true. I’m glad you touched on this because I wouldn’t necessarily have thought of it myself but you’re 100% right.

    littlehenrylee.net

  • I couldn’t agree with this post more! I love travel and I love the travel blogging community, but the notion of travel being the only way to live a full life is not only ridiculous but potentially detrimental. Even though I have grown because of my travels, it’s definitely not the only way to grow and I kind of wish that people/social media/some bloggers would depict travel more realistically and honestly. As a beautiful but difficult privilege and certainly not a requirement on the road to fulfillment.

  • Sophie Lee

    Totally agree with you <3

    xoxo, Cool style for men