Blog - November 23, 2022

Day 23 : The November Happiness Challenge 2022

Travel

I grew up in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, and I lived here without leaving at all for the first fourteen years of my life. The only person who used to travel was my dad, and it was solely for work. Other members of the family stayed back home and only commuted within the city. It could be because most of our Family members also lived in Ibadan so there was really no reason to travel, or it could be that my parents were just scared of the ills of travel and needed to shield us, or it could be both. Anyway, we didn’t go anywhere so you can imagine how we felt after evry holiday was over and our classmates were sharing tales of how they went to different cities with their siblings or parents. I really always felt left out, but I was still happy that we got to visit fancy places around, and our parents ensured that we had fun. The first opportunity to travel arose when I was 15. I had a friend in my neighbourhood who was attending a boarding secondary school and we were pretty close. My parents knew hers so it wasn’t hard for them to accept when her dad suggested that I followed them to her visiting day. I was so happy about this, I could barely sleep before the day came, I kept thinking up how the journey would be and I jjst couldn’t contain my excitement. You’d think I was travelling a  far distance but I really wasn’t . It was in Ikirun, Osun state which means it was just about two hours from Ibadan. But whatever, I was travelling and that was all that mattered. We went on the journey and it was even more interesting than I envisaged. Her dad bought us snacks along the way and I was chatting with her siblings who we travelled together. We got to her school and she jumped at me as she didn’t expect I’d be coming. It was all the more exciting to realise that they were going on holiday and she would be leaving with us back to Ibadan. The journey back was even more fun, and I couldn’t get over that experience for a long time. Next I travelled after then was to Ilorin where I attended University, and it went on even thought the travels were only necessary ones. I guess I still had that fear of moving from one place to the other and I used to look at my mates who travelled at will, with amazing wonder. Lol. Travelling should be a lot of fun, and it should also not be for duty only. It is very advised to travel from one place to the other in search of knowledge, love, fun  and many other things. The trip itself which could be by road, air or water, could be very interesting, and the change of environment could be the mood lifter that you never knew you needed. By road, imagine seeing all the trees and beautiful scenery, and different pathways that you might never find out where they lead to. Flying is also such an adventure, and while it might be scary at first, it becomes very intriguing and relaxing once one gets into it. Seeing the world from the sky is an experience that cannot be described. I still get agitated when I’m flying though, but I can’t deny the beauty of the experience. It is only water I haven’t tried and I’m not sure I’d be trying it. Chicken I am, I agree. Try to find time to travel, please. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune or be to a long distance, but please try it as often as you can, You can do it in groups or go solo, anyone you prefer is fine, or you try it in both ways. It could even be a city within your state or region, as long as it is a change of environment and your intention is enjoyment, please go for it! You have to create time for these tihings else you’d just be living every day as it comes and you wouldn’t know that you have not experienced exciting activities such as travelling. I absolutely recommend it, but please ensure to do safety and security checks, so you know that your destination is free from hazards, and the journey itself. When was the first time you travelled? How often do you travel? Do you have travel buddies? LEt’s chat. I’ll be back. OBA