"Well, well, well! If it isn't Tiana. You've only been missing for the past few months."
And, I have nothing else to tell you, but that you're right. l'esthetique has been a seriously neglected space for a while now, and I do apologize. However, I am in London. And I'm studying for five weeks, and I'm ready to share all of my experiences with you guys! Starting now!
For me, London is nothing short of one continuous adventure. I think that with traveling anywhere in the world, there is this constant, underlying opportunity to create your own journey. However, many people get lost in sub-par expectations and disappointed realizations. They create an idea of what traveling should be via their Pinterest boards and any other romantic fantasy, and are, for whatever reason, confused when it doesn't turn out to be a spitting image of the one that they had created in their minds. What I've learned throughout my time in London, though, is that adventures are everywhere. Beautiful adventures. And while they may be untraditional and out-of-the-ordinary, nine times out of ten, they are even better than anything you could have ever dreamt up for yourself. One merely has to allow themselves to be vulnerable to any situation, opportunity or unconventional pull that life may throw at them.
Throughout this past week I've compiled a short list of the things that I feel are most important when creating your adventure in a foreign city:
1. Never be afraid to say "yes!" – Of course, if there's some creepy guy on the street, you obviously don't say, "yes." But when it boils down to a "yes" or "no" decision on whether you want to make that weekend trip, or eat that extra slice of cake, saying "yes" is always the way to go!
2. Don't allow yourself to be disappointed because of too high of expectations – Your plans always turn out to be a lot more fun and a lot more adventurous when you don't place the highest of expectations on yourself or the situation. It's okay that you didn't get to visit that one site. Perhaps, you were meant to be somewhere else at that time, and perhaps that somewhere else was even better!
3. Don't let fatigue stop you from advice #1– This was advice that was given through a friend of a friend, but it's so true! Never let tired feet or weary eyes keep you from seeing the magic of the city. You may never get that opportunity again!
