"I checked my online bank account and I am relieved to see that I'll have $2,000 once I'm back, so I'm not completely broke. Still, I spent thousands of dollars on my trip, but I think it was worth it.
I shook hands with the very man who discovered the terracotta warriors, I rode elephants, I ate weird food, I climbed Mount Huashan and walked the death plank, I visited the tribes of chiang mai, I saw the forbidden city, I went in the cu chi tunnels of vietnam, I was asked to dinner by a multi-millionaire, I trespassed on the Great Wall of China, I ate local food and surfed with a Bali local for free, I met interesting people around the world (backpackers and locals), I climbed Mount Fuji, I observed different ways of living and picked up on certain terms and expressions from different countries.
They say money cant buy you happiness, and I definitely agree but only to a certain extent.
It is up to the individual to perceive life in however aspect they wish to. A pessimist, a realist, an optimist, whichever works.
Even so, money does provide opportunities that wouldn't be possible otherwise.
Money cant buy happiness in the material sense, no purse or house will ever give a person long-term satisfaction.
However, instead of spending my money on material goods, I spent my money on experience.
I think that by undergoing this experience and extracting the meaning behind my encounters, I have reached a certain content with my life and I am able to put things in much better perspective. Money can buy experience and it is up to the individual to use that experience for greater self-growth. It's been hard and I've messed up here and there, but I am glad for the time I've had on my trip. I've imagined Japan for all my life and being here is emotional for me at times. Though, my trip as a whole, I have learnt so much and demonstrated agency to such an extent that I am glad to have spent that much money. I know myself better and I know what perspective means to a greater extent.
I feel zen, I feel renewed, I feel tired from all this experience in once shot but I'm ready to conquer the world.
I've met travellers who are taking a gap year to travel, a millionaire who began with nothing, a farmer who became world-renown. I've seen extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Singapore, a country so rich that they invest money to beautify their country, to Vietnam, a country so poor that it's not so uncommon to see people walking barefoot.
One thing I know is that you only live once and limitations is a man-made concept.
Heck, I am but a student who saved enough money to fulfill my travelling dreams. I am fortunate to come from a supportive emotional and financial family but even if I was poor, a dream can be reached if one tries hard enough and has a vision of the end result.
Yes dad, you have mom and me and your other daughter to worry about financially. Yes, it is scary to invest so much money in a new business. Even so, wether it be this business opportunity or another, it is better to try and fail then not to try at all. We have each other and that is what matters the most. Sell the house, sell the car, that's okay. But the worst thing one can do to themselves is not believe in themselves or to get too comfortable in their small life that they forget to live. If you fail, you gain the experience and you know for the next try. If you succeed, the reward is knowing that you did it.
I've seen some cool things in Japan especially and I've always been coming up with funky ideas that you may be interested in!
I love you very much,
Danielle A"
