​I didn’t grow up traveling. In fact, I dropped out of high school without any understanding of basic history or geography— and certainly never guessed I’d one day travel to more than 75 countries and territories, mostly by myself. 
 

But I made up for lost time. 

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My first real journey began in the late 1990s, when I set off for Africa and the Middle East with very little money, zero experience, and just one real asset: a deep curiosity about what life might look like beyond the borders of my own limited perspective. It wasn't easy, but that trip set the bar for what I was capable of, which turned out to be a lot more than I could have ever imagined.
 

Later in 2002, I took off on a solo backpacking trip across 22 countries with a point-and-shoot digital camera I barely knew how to operate then– and still don’t. But those photos became indelible anchors in time, helping me hold onto the precious moments and experiences that shaped the person that I am, and am still becoming.

 

Curious how I afforded it all? By always choosing to spend my money on experiences rather than things. With the exception of two items that I wear constantly, I've never spent more than $100 on a single piece of clothing. And when given the option of buying a designer handbag or a plane ticket, I've picked the adventure every time. 
 

Travel didn’t just teach me about the world. It taught me how to live, how to observe, adapt, connect, and find beauty in the unlikeliest of places. I didn’t always know what I was doing, but I kept showing up. I kept learning. And I kept on going.

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The world is full of awe. And the people I’ve met along the way—many of whom had so little, yet shared so much—have shown me what truly matters. I'm truly grateful. 

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Thanks for visiting my site and sharing in my adventures!

– Lauren

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