Gap Year Takeaways Part 2

This year, I have spent a great deal of time traveling alone. In doing so, I’ve discovered that solitude is a privilege. I have realized that in these moments the mind develops as a creative vessel. Yet, in the irony of solo travel, I have also encountered some of the most extraordinary people, souls whose presence has created my journey in ways I never expected.

Through this experience, I have learned invaluable lessons about human connection and the kind of people I want to keep close for the rest of my life.

When you meet someone who makes you feel as if you're truly living for the first time, hold onto them. When you find a friend, that person who quiets the noise in your mind – the way it was quiet when you were a child, before the world started yelling – sit in that silence and let yourself rest.

I used to think miracles were rare, perhaps even imaginary. But this year, this brilliant, transformative gap year, has shown me otherwise. Miracles are everywhere. They exist in the smallest moments, in the people we meet, in the serendipitous ways our lives intertwine. 

There is something indescribably beautiful about allowing life to unfold without resistance, about welcoming the unknown with open arms. I have learned that some of the most profound connections are the ones we never see coming. This year I have seen strangers become family. I have had conversations that continue to linger in my mind long after they’ve ended.

We often think of love as something grand, but love is also in the smallest details. It is in the way someone remembers your favorite coffee order, the way a friend notices your expression, the way a stranger smiles at you on the street. This year has taught me that love, in all its forms, is part of that miracle.

I want to keep experiencing this year of growth, to keep seeking out the kind of people who make life feel fuller, richer, more alive. I want to hold onto the beauty of being present, of paying attention to things that once seemed mundane, of seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. Because if there’s one thing I know for certain now, it’s that the world is filled with miracles.

Xoxo,

Annie