Why You Should Travel Even If It Scares You

I'm sitting on a makeshift, removable bench on the top of an open-air Jeep that's weaving through a vibrant green jungle so close we have to lean in to avoid branches hitting us. The sun is setting on the horizon and traditional Colombian music is drifting down from the Jeep ahead of us as one of our tour guides begins playing instruments to the beat. The moment is so beautiful I could cry.

I want to pinch myself — how did I get here?

Well, to start, I almost didn't even go. All because I'm a scaredy-cat traveler. While I love to travel, I've historically chosen locations that are comfortable and easy. See, I'm the kind of person who is prone to irrational fretting before traveling to a place I've never been to before or don't know a lot about. Before I went to New Zealand, for instance, I stressed about things like if the windy roads would make me carsick and if I would survive the three-day hike we had planned (I'm not very outdoorsy, to say the least). Also, there's something about being on a plane for extended periods of time over large expanses of water that causes me to break into a cold sweat.

You know that scene in the beginning of The Hobbit where Bilbo Baggins passes out at just the thought of going on an adventure? Same.

Then about a month ago a friend of mine invited me on a media trip with Nescafé Taster's Choice to learn about the process of growing coffee in Colombia, a place that had honestly never crossed my mind to visit. I LOVE coffee, and it truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I was nervous facing the unknown. Was it safe? Would I get sick?

I had never been to South America, my high school Spanish was rusty to the point of being nonexistent, and then there were the required pre-trip vaccines (I hate needles), mosquito-spread diseases like Zika and Malaria (mosquitoes LOVE me), a history of political unrest, a very long flight I'd be taking on my own, and probably 100 other things I hadn't even thought of to worry about.

After a week or so of thinking it over, though, I made a decision. F*ck it, you only live once. I decided to go. And thank god I did. In the words of Bilbo, "I'm going on an adventure!"

I believe travel is essential to living a full life. It gives you a fresh perspective on your own small existence in relation to all that's out there. It simultaneously makes you feel like the world is bigger than you could imagine — when you realize there's never enough time to fully explore a city or country that's just a blip on the map — and yet small in an intimate way as you uncover common ground with the unlikeliest of fellow Earth inhabitants. Turns out, we aren't all that different after all.

Fear be damned. Grab those opportunities as they land on your doorstep, and you'll uncover experiences you never even dreamed about.

Inhaling the scent of fresh bread wafting into the streets from the panaderías, feeling the sun on my face as I hand-picked ripe red coffee beans in a farm spanning across acres of rolling hills, soaking in poignant messages behind the vibrant street art that coats the walls of Bogotá — these are moments I never would have experienced if I hadn't said yes to something that scared me. And don't get me wrong; I understand that I'm incredibly lucky to be offered these kinds of opportunities and that I live a life of privilege that affords me the luxury of having these choices to begin with. My point is this: it's easy to live a small life when you let your fear and anxiety hold the reins, and it's rewarding in unexpectedly exhilarating ways when you stretch yourself to try something you're scared of.

Oh, and in case you're wondering; the shots weren't a big deal, I didn't have any issues with transportation despite not speaking the language, and I never felt unsafe, in fact, quite the opposite. The country was beautiful, the people were welcoming and friendly, and the food was incredible. My only regret? That I didn't stay longer!