记得我最早的一个梦想是，有书读，为此，想到最好的工作，就是图书管理员，可以有读不完的书。当我能够有很多书读，多到懒得去读的时候，又一个梦想便是，行万里路。

 

“读万卷书不如行万里路”，所以我的梦想便是浪迹江湖，有多远走多远，有多流浪便多流浪，但迫于生计，不得不把这计划放在心底，留待“当我老了，老到可以放下一切”的时候，可是，要是我老到行动不便呢？这梦想便只是下辈子的事了，所以，身动，不如趁早，早到你还年轻，早到你可以接受一切失败和不如意，早到你一穷二白，这流浪的经历便会受用一生，于我，便今生无悔。

 

以下资料来自“有道学堂”，译文部分有改动。

 

3 Reasons to Travel While You’re Young

   趁年轻去旅行的三大理由

The other night, I had a conversation with a young woman who had a number of decisions ahead of her, one of which was whether she should go to grad school or travel the world.

那天晚上，我和一个年轻的女孩对话，她说在她面前有很多的决定，其中一个是她是否去读研究生还是去环游世界。

 

I told her to travel. Hands down. No excuse. Just go.

我告诉她去旅行。放下一切，没有任何理由，去做吧。

 

“Yeah, but…”

“是啊，但是。。。”

 

Never were more fatal words spoken.

Yeah, but… what about debt?

Yeah, but… what about my job?

Yeah, but… what about my boyfriend (or dog or car or whatever)?

“Yeah, but…” is pernicious. Because it makes it sound like we have the best of intentions when really we are just too scared to do what we should.

没有更多决定性的话去说。

是的，但是。。。债务怎怎么办？

是的，但。。我的工作怎么办？

是的，但。。那我的男朋友（还有狗啊猫咪呀很多很多）？

“是啊，但。。”是恶性的。因为那听起来好像我们有最好的打算当我们太害怕去做我们应该做的。

 

Most people I know who waited to travel the world never did.

 Conversely, plenty of people who waited for grad school or a steady job and traveled still did those things — eventually.

Be careful of the yeah-but. The yeah-but will kill your dreams.

我知道很多人等待着去环游世界结果都没成功。相反地，大批的人最终都还是要选择上研究生还是找一份稳定的工作，或者环游世界这些事情。

一定小心这个“是的，但是”。它将会毁了你的梦想。

 

I was so stirred by this conversation that I shared it with a group of about thirty young adults last night, many who were asking these very questions.

我太激动于这个对话，以至于昨晚我将它和几个一直发问的30岁左右的年轻人分享了。

 

The life you’ve always wanted

When you get older, life seems to just sort of happen to you. Your youth is a time of total empowerment.

你一直想要的生活

当你开始慢慢变老，生活中的种种似乎仅仅只发生在你身上。你的青年时期授予于时间。

 

You get to do what you want. As you mature and gain new responsibilities, you have to be very intentional about making sure you don’t lose sight of what’s important.

做你想要做的。当你成熟了，有新的责任时，你必须非常有意要确保你不会忘记什么才是最重要的。

 

So if you still have a reasonable amount of control over your circumstances, you should do what really matters. Because life won’t always be just about you.

因此，如果你有一个合理的理由控制你的情况，你应该做真正重要的。因为生命不会永远属于你。

 

During early adulthood, your worldview is still being formed. It’s important to steward this time — to give yourself opportunities to grow. A good way to do that is to travel.

在成年的早期，你的世界观已经形成。管理好你的时间是最重要的——给自己一个成长的机会。一个好办法是旅行。

So, young person, travel.

Travel wide and far.

Travel boldly.

Travel with full abandon.

所以，年轻人，去旅行吧。

旅行广泛而深远。

旅行需要大胆。

旅行需要放弃很多

 

You will regret few risks you take, when it comes to this. I promise you.

当谈到这个我相信你会后悔你采取的风险。

 

There are three reasons to travel while you’re young:

在你年轻的时候有三个理由要去旅行：

 

When you look back on your life, you will have moments of which you are proud and maybe a few you regret. It’s likely that the following won’t be on the latter list: 

1、旅行教你去冒险

当你回首你的生活，你会有那么一刻觉得是自豪的，也许有一些是遗憾的。很可能的是以下就是后者的名单：

 

Bicycled across the Golden Gate Bridge.

骑行穿过金门大桥。

Appeared on Italian TV.

出现在意大利电视。

Hiked a Mayan ruin.

徒步走在玛雅废墟。

Learned Spanish in three months.

在三个月内学会西班牙语。

Toured Europe by train.

乘火车游欧洲。

They’re not on mine (fun fact: I’ve done all of the above).

这些并不是我做过的（有趣的事实：我做以上的所有。）

What, then, will be?

那么，然后呢，还有什么？

Holding back.

Being afraid.

Making excuses.

阻碍。

恐惧。

找借口。

 

Not taking more risks.

Waiting.

不会承担更大的风险。

等待。

You should take the time to see the world and taste the fullness of life. It’s worth whatever investment or money or sacrifice of time required on your part.

当你年轻时，你应该去旅行。你应该花时间去看世界，品味完美的生活。那是值得去投资和花费时间的。

 

It’s not about being a tourist. It’s about experiencing true risk and adventure so you don’t have to live in fear for the rest of your life.

其全部意义不仅仅是作为一个旅行者，而是在经历真正的风险和冒险后，你的余生便不再恐惧。

 

In your youth, you will make choices that will define you. The disciplines you begin now will be with you for the rest of your life. 

2、旅行帮你面对同情

年轻时的选择在很大程度上决定了你的将来，所以你现在就要开始学习该怎么度过余生。

 

Traveling will change you like little else can. It will put you in places that will force you to care for issues that are bigger than you. 

旅行会让你把自己看得很微小，它会让你关注自身以外的事情，有时会忘了自己的存在。

 

If you go to southeast Asia, you may encounter the slave trade. If eastern Europe, you may see the effects of genocide and religious persecution. If Haiti, you’ll witness the the ugly side Western paternalism.

如果你去东南亚，你可能会遭遇奴隶贸易。如果在东欧，你可能会看到种族灭绝的影响和宗教迫害。如果在海地，你将目睹了西方家长作风的丑陋的一面。

 

Your heart will break.

You will begin to understand that the world is both a big and small place. You will have a new-found respect for the pain and suffering that over half of the world takes for granted on a daily basis. And you will feel more connected to your fellow human beings in a deep and lasting way.

You will learn to care.

你的心碎了。

你将会懂得这个世界有大的地方也有小的地方。你将会有一个新的发现尊重这些痛苦和折磨，超过一半的世界都认为是理所当然的。你会看到更多与你相关的同胞们在水深火热中。你将学会关照他人。

 

While you’re still young, you should get cultured. Get to know the world and the magnificent people that fill it.

3、旅行中你会收获一些文化知识

然而你还年轻，你应该学习文化。填补关于了解世界和壮丽的人类的知识。

There’s nothing quite like walking alongside the Coliseum or seeing Michelangelo’s David in person. I can describe the city of San Juan and its amazing beaches and historic sites to you, but you really have to see it for yourself to experience it. You can read all the books in the world about the Great Wall of China or The Louvre, but being there is a different story.

没有什么人能像走在体育馆或者看到米开朗基罗的大卫。我可以描述下圣胡安城市以及它惊人的海滩和历史性的网站给你，但是你真的想看就要亲自去体验。你可以读世界上关于中国长城或者卢浮宫的所以书籍，但如果你身临其境你会发现，那不一样的的故事。

The world is a stunning place, full of outstanding works of art. See it.

世界是一个令人震惊的地方，充满了优秀的艺术作品。去看它吧 。

Do this while you’re still young. Do not squander this time. You will never have it again.

这样做虽然你还年轻，不要浪费这时间。你将不会再过一遍的。

You have a crucial opportunity to invest in the next season of your life now. Whatever you sow, you will eventually reap. Please. For your sake, do this.

你有一个至关重要的投资机会在接下来的生活。无论你的播种怎么样，你最终将会有收获。请为了自己，去做吧。

You won’t always be young. And life won’t always be just about you. So travel. Experience the world for all it’s worth. Become a person of culture, adventure, and compassion.

你不会是永远年轻，生活也不会永远只关于你，所以去旅行，体验世界中开发出的一切都是值得的。成为一个人的文化、冒险、同情。

“What if I’m not young?”

"如果我不再年轻”？

Travel, anyway. It may not be easy to do, but find a way to get out of your comfort zone. It’s really never too late.

旅行，不管怎么说。并不是很容易就去做的，但是找到一个方法走出你的区域，这真的不会太迟。

But if you haven’t gotten sucked into the routine of life yet, I implore you — travel. It will never be easier than it is right now for you to do that which really matters.

但如果你没有进入到你常规的生活里，我恳求你--旅行。它将永远不会比现在更容易为你去做那些真正重要的事。

Have you seen what the world has to offer and how it can change you? Join the discussion in the comments.

Reading material

If you’re ready to step off the beaten path, here are a few travel companions I recommend:

The Frequent Flyer Master by Chris Guillebeau

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo

And if you’re looking to travel with a purpose, consider going on a mission trip. I highly recommend The World Race.

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*Photo credit: kokorowa (Creative Commons)

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阅读材料

如果你准备出行，这里有些我想推荐的旅伴：

经常飞行大师克里斯 克耶博

《阿瑟戈登皮特的故事》的埃德加 爱伦 坡

吃，祈祷，爱的伊丽莎白 艾尔伯特

描绘沙漠的唐纳德 米勒

保罗 科埃略的炼金术士

如果你想要旅行的目的，考虑传教之旅。我强烈推荐世界竞赛。