100 things I will teach my daughter if she decides to travel the world one day

Today, while dipping in a pool in Mancora, Peru and sipping afternoon drinks (really, afternoon drinks?!), me and my traveling friends talked about how we will raise our children if we plan to have one in the future.ย 

Will we allow them to travel the world? How will we feel if they would want to do it? How did our parents feel with our life decisions?

I am not a mother yet but my mother is a great example of being a mother. She just learned how to be one, by herself, of different children who opted for very extreme life decisions and sheโ€™s okay with it. I can never imagine myself being that lenient โ€“ and that awareness amazes me up until today.

I am not a mother yet and I honestly donโ€™t know how it feels but I know itโ€™s pretty scary to see your children go out there on their own, after years of raising them.

Itโ€™s something we donโ€™t have control of, most especially if they choose a life path that is very different from ours.

Here are some things I contributed during the afternoon drinking conversation. This might change but for now, these are the things I will tell my daughter if she decides to travel the world one day.

  1. Travel. A lot.
  2. Be fearless, but cautious.
  3. You will meet a lot of boys when you travel the world, I tell you that.
  4. They will hurt you, play with your feelings but you might also find the love of your life while traveling.
  5. All you have to do is accept and understand the miserable but marvelous world of men.
  6. Theyโ€™re not as complicated as (we) women are.
  7. Wake up not knowing where you are.
  8. Read a lot of books.
  9. Iโ€™d like it if you read Motorcycle Diaries in Spanish.
  10. Iโ€™d like it if you will learn Spanish. Or French. And Portuguese as well. Or Italian.
  11. Travel Latin America. My best life experiences are from this continent.
  12. And tell me everything about it.
  13. Because you can tell me everything and I wonโ€™t take it against you.
  14. Go bankrupt but never give up on your dreams of traveling the world.
  15. Even if you only have $2 in your bank account.
  16. Donโ€™t think about the money.
  17. Just make it work.
  18. Pay your own shit.
  19. Because I will never pay for your travels.
  20. Be a feminist.
  21. Being a feminist is not a bad thing.
  22. It only means you want equal rights as men.
  23. The world is not as scary as you think.
  24. Live in the present.
  25. Tomorrow is another day. Donโ€™t think about it too much.
  26. Not putting make-up is okay.
  27. I didnโ€™t put make up for over three years of traveling the world and I was just fine.
  28. Do not be shy to go to the pharmacy to buy condoms.
  29. Buy shit loads of condoms.
  30. Bring heaps of condoms all the time.
  31. You can travel the world but never ever lose touch with your best girlfriends from home. Never.
  32. Theyโ€™re the most real group of people youโ€™ll ever meet in this world.
  33. Plus your mother. And your grandmother (my mother).
  34. Smoking weed is okay.
  35. But donโ€™t get imprisoned abroad.
  36. You will get really lonely when traveling.
  37. So you might hook up with a lot of boys โ€“ and thatโ€™s okay.
  38. There is no shame for hooking up.
  39. There is no shame for hoping for love either.
  40. The friends you will meet while traveling will also be your friends forever.
  41. And that awareness will amaze you.
  42. Traveling friends are like HIV โ€“ they will stick with you forever.
  43. I will never force you to go to University if you donโ€™t want to.
  44. The world can be your University.
  45. But please finish High School.
  46. Eat as much as you want without worrying about your figure.
  47. You will be amazed how food is served in other countries.
  48. If you are happy with what you are eating, your soul will be, too.
  49. Embrace whatever life throws at you.
  50. Pain, anger, happiness โ€“ any feeling you will encounter counts.
  51. Live with local families.
  52. Treat them as your own.
  53. Volunteer. Do work exchange.
  54. Work in a bar while traveling.
  55. Get drunk.
  56. Donโ€™t say sorry for who you are.
  57. But first, you have to accept who you are.
  58. In order to do this, you must love yourself.
  59. Dental hygiene is very important, traveling or not.
  60. And lotion too.
  61. Learn how not to judge every people you meet on the road. Their experiences are incomparable.
  62. You donโ€™t have to like yoga.
  63. But please meditate everyday. It will feed your mind and soul.
  64. Find out the beauty of being alone.
  65. Donโ€™t let a man define your existence.
  66. Refer to men as boys.
  67. It takes power away from them.
  68. You have to listen to me.
  69. But I will respect if you explore the world the way you want it.
  70. Donโ€™t let anyone touch you without consent.
  71. Your body is your kingdom.
  72. So be kind to it.
  73. I would be happy if youโ€™ll learn not to smoke a lot of cigarettes.
  74. I did and I find it hard to stop.
  75. It is important to be healthy while traveling.
  76. Travel a continent by bus.
  77. Use CouchSurfing (if it still exists).
  78. Skinny dip in Rio de Janeiro โ€“ or anywhere in the world you prefer.
  79. Be crazy. Be very crazy.
  80. Itโ€™s okay to be a child sometimes.
  81. Make beautiful mistakes.
  82. And learn from it.
  83. Sleep on floors if you have to.
  84. Learn how to cook in the countries youโ€™ll be traveling to.
  85. Our lives are borrowed and it has expiration dates. Make the most out of it.
  86. You donโ€™t have a career. Donโ€™t worry about it.
  87. You have a life so live it.
  88. Make me worry.
  89. Do what you want.
  90. Learn how to live with a 75-litre backpack.
  91. Not more than 75, please.
  92. Write about your experiences.
  93. Write. Write. Write.
  94. And may it end up really really beautiful.
  95. You donโ€™t have to visit every country in the world.
  96. You will find one country that you will really love.
  97. Thatโ€™s what I feel about Spain โ€“ love.
  98. Call home. All the time.
  99. Home is just a plane away and I will be waiting for you, always. No matter how long it takes.
  100. Donโ€™t worry. Youโ€™re not the only one โ€“ nobodyโ€™s got life figured out.

Truth is, there is more than 100 things that I want to tell my future daughter. Traveling the world taught me so much about life and I want to share it to her.

If you have the chance (and not a parent yet), what do you want to tell your children in the future?

Similar Posts

48 Comments

  1. “100. Don’t worry. You’re not the only one – nobody’s got life figured out. ” Thank you for this! I think it’s the most important one ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Great list! ๐Ÿ™‚ I hope I can teach my daughter (or son!) to be a feminist more than anything.

  3. Iโ€™m impressed, I ought to say. Seriously rarely do I encounter a weblog thatโ€™s each educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have got hit the nail on the head. Your concept is outstanding; the problem is something that not sufficient people today are speaking intelligently about. I am extremely content that I stumbled across this in my search for one thing relating to this.

  4. I just came across your website and found myself filling my browser with your posts. I have never been this inspired by any travel blogs before until today. Thanks you very much! Keep writing! ๐Ÿ˜€

  5. Beautiful. I’m crying about my wanderlust dying to be put on practice; I’ve been resting for three years ๐Ÿ™ and it makes me feel so nostalgic.

  6. I really love this article. I wanted to travel the world someday, I am just starting my journey, travelling domestic in PH, and some countries in Asia.I have read your articles as well and it really inspires me. I wish and hope to be like you ๐Ÿ™‚ Keep writing, and keep us inspired by your experiences ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. I’m pretty sure that you’d become a great mom someday. Here’s what I would want to tell my future daughter. Don’t be afraid to leave the scattered parts of yourself wherever you go; for it is only when we lost a parts of ourselves that we can be whole again.

    Your story has stricken me in such a way that made me re-evaluate my own life. Hoping to meet you on the road someday! ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Nice! Well not to your daughter, but to all twenties in the world. Print out and stick on wall, this article really put me into better mood today;)

  9. I like your list. You are so brave for traveling alone, writing this and speaking up what you want even if it touched sensitive areas like condoms and falling inlove. What you will teach your daughter is right its up to her if she will follow you. You inspired me with this post. You’ll be a good Mom.

  10. WOOOOOW. I am amazed by you. I’d love to do what you’re doing. I just need to gather up my courage. But really, I am so inspired and this is such a beautiful post <3

  11. Hey Trisha, i like each and every point of your article. This point are not just for your daughter, it is for every girl in the world. I love traveling too, I am gonna follow your point and i will make sure my daughter too follow that.

  12. #73 & 74 so true. wonderful list!
    I like the last part. i feel you in every numbers. I could have some list but you nailed it.

  13. Damned it. Just remember you writing this post by the Mancora’s party flow.
    Nostalgia came. I swear I will not forget those hammocks, not even the 24-hour bus drive. Neither xisca’s and I decision,… at 3:00 a.m.

    Thank you for being part of my heart! =)
    You’re the best, trisha!

  14. Glad that I have found this blog of yours. It’s very inspiring! I worry a lot of things and it’s nice to know people like you who inspire and encourage other people.

    P.S. Thank you for #38 & #39 (need those for myself too)

  15. Such a wonderful post! Other mom would ask “don’t do this and that…”, the list is endless! Haha! You’ll definitely gonna be one of the coolest mom someday. ๐Ÿ™‚

  16. I love this list… we don’t plan on having kids, but I will definitely be sharing this with a bunch of kids who are taking their first steps into the World.

  17. Travel teaches a lot of patience and tolerance and that is what enhances the education of the traveler. Out of all the points that you have listed, I liked the one about not worrying about tomorrow and living in the present. That is indeed what life is all about. Live every moment as if it were the last.

  18. Most important for me are the last 2 , it’s okay if you don’t have everything figured out yet and I will be waiting for you when you want to go home.

  19. Such powerful words! I have a great relationship with my mom and often travel with her. I think she would agree with a lot of these. I especially love #85: Our lives are borrowed and it has expiration dates. Make the most out of it.

  20. Lol, I was wondering how many bullets you would go on about condoms from, hehehe ๐Ÿ™‚ You will be a great mother if you so decide to be one, just like you are a great woman! <3

  21. Such a lovely post and great thoughts too. I too feel I will tell my daughter majority of this but not sure because even I am not a mother yet. Actually, we have a short life and there is so much to see. Travelling the world itself will teach so much.

  22. Hi Trisha, you are inspiration! I wish there is more parents out there with the same thought as you. “Our lives are borrowed and it has expiration dates. Make the most out of it” this is the reality of life that we need to embrace. Lastly, this is great self note: “Learn how not to judge every people you meet on the road. Their experiences are incomparable.” Thank you for sharing.

    PS: I love reading your blog.

  23. I read this post back in 2015 as a 17 year old freshman in college and now at 25, I still go back to reading this list every time I need a push and it resonates with me so much as I grow older. Thank you for this ๐Ÿ™‚

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *