It was only two days ago that Lexie Alford announced that she had officially become the youngest person to travel to every country in the world. This is such an amazing feat to have accomplished. Seeing what she has been able to accomplish, as someone who is only one year older than me is absolutely incredible and mindboggling. It is such a crazy thought that she was able to travel to every single country in the world. Think about that, every country in the world, that's 196 countries.
Looking at her Instagram profile it is so easy to admire everything she has set out to do, and it is even easier to be so jealous of it all.
It is so easy to look at her life and compare lives. Her photos are so pretty and well done, it's unbelievable that she is only 21. Here I am at 20 years old and I have never traveled anywhere outside of California, well also to Arizona. I have such a blank slate and she has the map completely covered. Even now thinking about it, I can't help but get a little sad and envious. She even has a website that has a blog and her beautiful photography. Everything about that site is showcasing all of her amazing travels.
Being on the outside looking in, it is so easy to be envious and want everything she has accomplished. She has been around the world and seen every culture, that is one of my biggest dreams. the craziest thing is that she is only 21. I am not that much younger than her and yet look at me, the only place I have ever been my home state, California. I did once go to Arizona, but that was just to drop off my brother at school.
I have no crazy adventure stories or cool experiences to share. There has been nothing that significant that has happened to me. I just want to compare my life to hers and point out the ways that her life is better than my own.
I know that isn't the way to look at it. I realize that we both have our own circumstances and our own ways of experiencing the world. I have to look at every part of my life and realize she has had her own blessings that have allowed her to live the life she has, and I have my own that has allowed me to live mine.
Instead at looking at how our lives are different and seeing it as her life is better than mine, I am choosing to look at it as an inspiration to go out and see the world for myself. I want to see the world with my eyes and understand what it is like to interact with other cultures for myself. She is only 21 and has become the youngest person who has been to every country in the world. She has done something unbelievably amazing. Her mission statement is to show people that they can do amazing things themselves, and that is what I am choosing to take.