Celebrating Travel

Are You A Wanderlust Unicorn?

Hi, I’m Kara, and I love to travel the world, experience other cultures, learn about myself (and learn from others), try new things, live outside my bubble, and….

PLOT TWIST!

I love my very corporate, very traditional office job. I love corporate life, the routine, my cube, my coworkers, and all the stress/fun/challenges/excitement that comes with it.

Pause for shock and awe.

Yes, I love corporate life AND I have a desperate need to travel the world.

Am I an outlier? A unicorn? Can I truly call myself a “wanderlust”?

Does this ring true for you, or do you think I’m loca?

Celebrating Travel

I’ve been hanging around many avid travelers and alternative career-path friends lately, and I can’t help but notice the consistent cheers that only my fellow “I quit my job to travel the world” comrades incite. 

“Wow, congrats.” “That’s amazing - good for you.” “You did it!”

On one hand, I get it. 

Quitting your job or changing to an alternative career is a scary thing and extremely brave - and it can be confusing to those with conservative, limited, or traditional career views. Maybe my fellow wanderlusts need the extra support and affirmation because they are taking a leap into the potential unknown.

On the other hand, I can’t shake the idea that a new traveler hallmark is being established: that the end goal is to leave corporate cube life behind for some sort of alternative, nomadic lifestyle. 

And those who are lucky and/or brave enough to do it are the ones we should celebrate.

Are we forgetting to celebrate travel, regardless of the lifestyle or career behind it?

I have immense respect for those who alter their career, their lifestyle, and their mindset to focus on traveling the world. 

It’s exciting, and yet it’s not for me. 

But that doesn’t make me any less of a wanderluster. You can love to travel and get out there while still being “traditionally” employed.

In the wise words of one of my heroes, Kesha, 

“Do whatever makes you happy, and screw everything else, if you ask me.” 

Do you. And forget the rest. 

So if you’re like me, know that you can do both—you can love corporate life, climb the corporate ladder, AND travel the world. Know that you too, are celebrated. 

If you’re embracing the nomad or alternative career path, I salute you and celebrate you just the same!

Let’s remember to celebrate all who travel – whether it’s for a weekend, or a lifetime. 

Because a moment spent outside your bubble is a moment closer to bridging gaps. A mile spent outside your bubble is a mile closer to building bridges. 

We can all use a little culture in our lives, to thwart narrow-mindedness and to encourage others to enrich their lives through travel. 

Mark Twain (another one of my heroes) once said, 

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”

To answer the question, “Are you a wanderlust unicorn?” Yes, you are. 

We are all wanderlust unicorns because we all have a unique approach to satisfying our wanderlust desires.

What’s great is that whether you’re living it up in your 9-to-5 office job or are a rejoicing in nomadic life, companies like Under30Experiences can make those weekend, week, or month long travel dreams a reality. 

Wherever you are, U30X has a trip(s) for you. And you’ll probably meet some pretty awesome unicorns along the way.

So get out there, my magical wanderlust unicorns!