When I returned from a few months in Europe last year, a good friend mentioned that I seemed mellower than I used to. I agreed. This year after returning from a few more months on the road (both were solo trips) I noticed an even bigger change. I’m not very afraid anymore.

When I was growing up I was always overly cautious and afraid of getting hurt. However, while traveling, I was in situations in which I just had to accept a certain amount of risk. After riding an old bike with faulty brakes through a little Italian town with no helmet on, I feel ridiculous about ever having worried about riding a bike in my hometown. What’s there to fear?

And yesterday after riding on numerous spinny rides at the local fair, I finally ventured onto the one ride that scared me – one in which you ride in a little cage that periodically flips over. And I wasn’t scared.

Yeah, these are pretty little things, but it’s amazing to see real changes in yourself that were brought about by traveling. I hope everyone gets a chance to test their limits, step outside of their comfort zones, and witness positive changes in themselves afterwards. It totally kicks ass.