The funny thing about travel is that the more things that go wrong, the better the experience and story after -- and sometimes that goes for life, too.

"She found herself
over a long
and treacherous road
and the more
treacherous
the road became,
the more of
herself
she found."
--Atticus

We've all been guilty of overpacking, even when we have the best of intentions (Raise your hand if you've never actually used the hotel gym, even though you bring all your workout clothes every. single. time.) In life and in travel, it's best to only bring with you what you need.

"He who would travel happily must travel light." --Antoine de St. Exupery

Oscar Wilde may have said this facetiously, but a travel diary will give you something to look back on when the trip becomes a blur of museums and sightseeing decades later.

"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train." --Oscar Wilde

Meeting new people, gaining experiences, and connecting with people from all over this planet of ours is really an amazing thing, when you think about it.

"We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity." --Paulo Coelho