Travel and the Power of YES
Every day, we make hundreds if not thousands of decisions. What to have for breakfast. Whether to text someone back or pop down the street to say hi. When to speak up or stay silent. But few choices shape our lives more than how we respond to opportunities. This is especially true when it comes to travel. I hear it constantly: “I could never do that,” “must be nice,” or “you’re so lucky.” But what if it’s not luck at all? What if the only difference is this: I said YES.
Saying yes doesn't mean recklessness. It means openness. It means leaning into curiosity instead of fear. Recently, I spent a week in Syria. A lot of people told me not to go. “Too dangerous,” they said. “What if something happens?” But I said yes, and what I found was beauty, kindness, generosity, history, and a richer understanding of the world well beyond the media-fueled fear. You see, fear would have kept me home. Yes led me to one of the most meaningful trips of my life.
Most of the frequent travelers I know have something in common: they’re yes people. They’re the ones who book the ticket even when it’s inconvenient, who walk the extra mile to see the sunrise, who start conversations with strangers. They're not richer or luckier. They just choose possibility over stasis.
Of course, not every yes leads to perfection. But every yes DOES teach something. It opens a door you didn’t know existed. It challenges your assumptions. It rewires your brain for courage. That’s the secret. Travel doesn’t just show you the world… it shows you who you can be when you stop letting fear answer for you.
Just seeing the fountain above in Copenhagen was magical enough, but then I decided to strike up a conversation with a stranger. What happened next was the kind of magic that only happens when you say yes: we ended up chatting for over three hours about life, the universe, and especially travel. I could have sat home and watched TV, but instead I said yes.
So, what are YOU going to say yes to today?