When I made my first trip abroad, it wasn’t just about seeing a new country. Yes, I was curious, curious about what life looked like beyond the borders of my home, curious about visiting some places I had only read about, secured visas, and booked flights for others. As a travel consultant, I travelled through my clients’ reviews and experiences and I decided it was time to experience it.
I applied for a visa to visit the UK, got it, packed my bags, and set off. But I wasn’t just chasing tourist attractions only, I was chasing something deeper. I didn’t have the words for it at the time, but now I know. I was looking to find something new to leave something behind and to be led somewhere by the trip.
Six hours on a plane seemed like a big journey. But what surprised me was how much further the inner journey would take me.
In the journey, I learned that being far from home forces you to confront yourself. There’s no routine to hide behind, no familiar faces to lean on. You meet yourself in raw, honest ways. I discovered insecurities I didn’t know I had and strengths I never thought I had. I was left with myself, and that’s when the real journey began.
I had expected to explore only new streets, but I ended up exploring my fears. I had hoped to collect memories, but I also collected pieces of self-awareness. I realised that while the world is vast, the inner world, the one made of emotions, doubts, dreams, and courage, is even more infinite.
As I took beautiful pictures, I looked at life not just through my camera lens but with other eyes that came with the awareness of the moments. And in these unplanned quiet moments, I realised I didn’t just travel distance away, some distance travelled through me.
And here’s what I want young people to know.
Travel doesn’t have to mean getting on a plane. You can start the journey within you at any age, from anywhere. Every time you step out of your comfort zone, listen closely to your feelings, or ask yourself honest questions, you’re travelling.
Be curious. About the world, yes, but also about yourself. Ask, Why do I feel this way? What excites me? What scares me? What dreams keep tugging at me?
Pay attention to quiet moments. That’s often where the most powerful discoveries happen. In a still room, a long walk, a journal entry, or a pause before bed, you meet yourself in those moments.
Don’t be afraid to feel lost sometimes. That’s often the first sign that you’re actually growing.
And remember this. You don’t have to go far to find something meaningful. You just have to go deep.
Through travel, I learned that it’s not about distance. It’s about depth. It’s not about how many countries you’ve visited or how many memories you’ve made. It’s about how much more present, open, and grounded you become with every experience, whether you’re halfway across the world or sitting quietly in your own home.
Truly, the greatest distance isn’t measured in miles. It’s the space between who you are and who you’re becoming, the journey that brings you closer to yourself. And that’s a trip worth taking for everyone.
✍️ Amara Ann Unachukwu
