Travelling and learning about different cultures have been some of the funnest and most fruitful times of my life. I’ve never backpacked Europe, or studied abroad but learning from one another I feel is the best way to find out who you really are as a person. Back in April 2018, I really went out of my comfort zone taking my first ever solo trip. I was 20 years old with a passport and a date with destiny in the beautiful city of New Orleans. I went on this trip planned around a big event, WrestleMania 34, and I was going to meet up with some of my closest buddies some of whom I still speak with to this day.

It was so nerve wracking. The entire trip was very unorganized, but it was fun to just explore. Typically I enjoy having a plan, agenda or idea of what I’m doing each day. My girlfriend is the best at creating a detailed itinerary which has provided some of the best trips, happy memories and excellent experiences that I will never forget. Here are the seven places I would love to add to my long list of experiences.

1. Italy — Como, Venice, Rome, and Milan
2. Greece — Athens
3. Spain — Tenerif, Barcelona, Madrid
4. Hawai’i — Oahu, Big Island
5. Iceland — Reykjavik, Vatnajökull
6. Japan — Tokyo, Kyoto-jo, Osaka-jo
7. Portugal — Porto

Now, I know what you’re thinking.

Hawai’i–cool dude–so original.

Eh, I’m a doer, learner, then relaxer on vacations in that order. All the planets I listed all fit in with the style of vacation that I would most love to do. Because to me, a vacation is not merely a break from the norm as much as it is a time of freedom to do whatever the hell you want to do.

For me? That’s experiences. Museums. Seeing things that are foreign to my day to day. So perhaps it really is a break from the norm. Perhaps it is a replacement of the same old same old. And that to me is what I feel we all deserve. A time to break off the typical path and find that little voice inside of us that just wants a reason to let out a guttural scream.

Fun fact, I just used the term guttural scream in my book, and I feel like we are all owed at least one guttural scream per month. Doesn’t have to even be out of pain, it could be like that white woman who enjoyed Moana a little too much, flew to the polynesian islands and screamed her heart out.

That is a vacation and a half.

Imagine THAT high. THAT adrenaline. THAT feeling. Must be so euphoric. Like scoring a touchdown on a Trips Left 51 Missile, or making three straight diving catches in Men’s League softball. Been there done that to be honest.

In all seriousness, I truly hope that as we near the end of the year that we all appreciate and grow an understanding that our time on this rock is not a guarantee. We aren’t promised a tomorrow, and even if you want it, it could evade you. So am I a little fickle for making a blog about vacations but talking about mortality? Sure.

But at the end of the day, dreams are what make life tolerable. And one day, I want to dance with my missus on the shores of Lake Como, kiss her underneath the Northern Lights. I want to see the world, feel the world, understand the world 1% better every single day.

And until then, we keep on fighting.

love, trev