The Leather Handbag to Compliment a Wanderlust Heart
I
grew up in a small town in Alabama. This small town nearly confirms every
stereotype that you see depicted in movies. At my high school, the football
quarterback dated the captain of the cheerleading squad. The presence of
“cliques” was real and was almost necessary to label your identity as a student.
My hometown was also defined by a “small town culture” where everyone knows
everything about everybody. Growing up, I hated this. I always felt confined by
the standards of my small town and it never felt like I had the opportunity to
grow and explore who I truly was.
As I got older, I discovered the
luxury of traveling. Being in a new place, completely out of my comfort zone
and different from anything I had ever known, was where I thrived. I loved the
feeling of being a “nobody.” I had no expectations for what I should wear, what
I should be interested in, or who I should be. It was a freeing experience to
explore who I am and what I can contribute to this world.
The first time I had the opportunity
to travel and live in an unfamiliar culture was teaching English in Jackson
Heights, New York City one summer during my undergraduate career. During this
summer, I would write my friends back home, describing the neighborhood in
which I worked as “real life Epcot.” It contained pockets of different
immigrant groups, all bunched together within close proximity. Just one of my English
classes could include students from five different countries. In that
neighborhood, it was as if the world was brought to my fingertips. Living in
New York City allowed me to broaden my horizons and open my mind to the
different perspectives of the world.
Later in life, I had the opportunity
to live in a new culture and teach English once again. This time I lived in San
Sebastian, Spain for a year. This experience was meaningful in my ability to
discover who I am and what I ultimately want out of life. I gained exposure to various
different cultures through friendships, or by traveling to other countries in
Europe such as France, Ireland, and England. I remember the longing feeling of
wanting to visit new places just to see what it was like, to experience a way
of life that was slightly different from my own. There is so much beauty in
observing the many aspects of a foreign culture, realizing there is not one
right way to be human.
Recently, I moved back to the small
town where I grew up. I returned after pursuing a career endeavor, only to
realize it is not what I ultimately want out of life. My time here has served
as a season of transition to reset and think through my next steps. Initially,
my instinct was to move far away again, to escape the confines of my hometown.
However, a global pandemic hindered my ability to do so, and brought me back
home.
While
living here, I have learned the value of staying rather than going. I have also
recognized that a large part of the romance of traveling doesn’t necessarily
have to do with the views, the food, or the tourist sites—it’s the people. It
is intriguing to listen to the varying perspectives of other. Being in this
small town in Alabama, I have sought to treat my friendships here like I would
in a foreign country by listening and asking insightful questions. I think I
had always assumed that everyone here tends to think very similarly. But what I
have found has shocked me. There is so much to be gained from the perspectives
and views of those immediately surrounding me.
I
am definitely not saying that I am giving up traveling. I am actually planning
my next trip right now. I think I am realizing there is beauty in both—in the
staying and in the going. Both will challenge you, but in completely different
ways. Whether I decide to travel close by or far away, I am always in need of a
durable leather handbag for on the go. One of my favorite online stores, Bag
Dash, provides an incredible selection of bags, purses, and backpacks that suit
most any style preference or need. My top choice right now is the Elegant Retro
Daily Handbag. The design is unique and versatile. It’s great for running
errands around town or embarking on an international adventure. I can take this
handbag with me, whether I decide to stay or go. Either way, it’s the perfect
leather handbag to compliment my wanderlust heart.