Why I don't believe that you should travel in your 20's

A famous boy band once said “Let’s get crazy crazy crazy ‘till we see the sun, tonight let’s get some, and live while we’re young”. 

Without a doubt, being a young adult is awesome. Your metabolism is still fantastic, you're finally earning your own money, meeting up with old friends, and discussing how lost you are with life. Hurrah, quarterlife crisis! 

Let's dance to vitality!

There are numerous articles on 'Why You Should Travel in Your Twenties' shared on Facebook to show how much of a hardcore #wanderlust advocate they are. However, is there really a perfect age to travel? Allow me to share my unpopular opinion!

CRITICAL TIMING

Thank you Facebook! Now you can see all of the fun is happening where you are not. The tech-savvy youth are posting their surfing in paradise photos on Facebook. Meanwhile, you’re in bed, possibly trying to fill the void of loneliness with distractions like reading this entry (thank you hee). Suddenly you get frustrated. “I’m in my peek of vitality! Why am I here, reading Sheena’s blog?" Then you panic because you've missed out on so much.

Indeed, the quest of being the young weekend warrior is fulfilling to achieve. However, there are still situations beyond your control that can delay your plans. An excellent example is putting your trip on hold, because you want to squeal like a teenager while watching the 'AlDub Kalyeserye.'

What if you’ve reached 50, and only now have the chance to go to your dream holiday getaway. Are you supposed to mourn and go “No! I’ve missed my chance! I’m 30 years too late!” <cue: rain pours as you fall on your knees, the camera pans outward>

This unnecessary pressure runs on the pretense that enjoying travel has a deadline. It assumes that the most fun will be during your 20’s, and will slowly decline as you grow older. Do you really think that your travel experience in your 40’s will be bleak compared to when you were in your younger years? I’ve met people who are miserable in their 20’s, and some who are enjoying their retirement age.

IMPERMANENCE

Do you remember nap time when you were in pre-school? Play time was so amaaaaazing! Now you’re supposed to take a nap? Neverrrrrr!

Dear teacher

Twenty years later, you are a cog in the corporate machine. Then, a fairy comes along and says "I will grant you the wish of more sleep, in exchange for meeting your true love." *Poof!* Single blessedness, here you come!

In life, the only thing that is constant is change. Aside from naps, your preference for a lot of your activities will likely change when you get older. Sure, the young guns currently enjoy wall climbing, riding “top load” of vehicles, and meeting hotties in bars who will never call back.  

Ten, twenty, thirty years from now, they will opt for different activities. For example, an idea of a fun trip might involve bringing their child along to camp in the woods. During night time, there will be bonding over marshmallows toasting on the bonfire. Now, burning sugar on sticks might be boring for the young traveller, but for other parents out there, they wouldn’t change that precious moment for anything in the world. Except maybe getting unlimited free gas for a year. That sounds pretty great too.

TAKE A CHILL PILL

I don’t believe that travelling in your 20’s is the best time to travel. The perfect time to travel is whenever you are ready. 

Who's ready? I'm ready!

And to give this entry a profound boost, here is a bonus quote for you to include in your next Instagram selfie.
 
“The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” 

- Christopher McCandless

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