“Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.”

I’m back again with a new episode of Traveler Stories From Around The World. And our guest for today is a dreamer, traveler, and a fashionista, Sanjani Shah. She’s a 20 something, figuring out her way through life, who loves writing her tales and telling it to the world.

Sanjani believes in living the life you love and are proud of. She also encourages others to do the same. You are most likely to find her sipping on a black coffee at a café near a beach, a city or the mountains. Here’s her story.

What got you into traveling?

Ever since I was a kid, I used to get excited to see pictures of faraway places. I’ve always had the curiosity of knowing how people in a particular place live and how different their daily routine is from mine.

So when I took my first ever trip, I explored and enjoyed it but something else too happened. For the first time ever, I found myself living in the present, not regretting the past or being afraid of the future. Just being there and living. I felt so light and free. I wanted these experiences even more. The thought of my next trip keeps me going. That’s how important travel is for me.

What was your first travel experience like?

My first travel experience as a grown-up (unsupervised by anyone, based on my own planning and budgeting 🙂 ) was to Rajasthan. I still remember the trip vividly. I went with two of my friends and we had a blast. We traveled using the local transport and tried all the local delicacies. We did some touristy stuff but also visited some off-beat places.

We saw how beautiful the world can be outside of your air-conditioned cars and digital devices. It’s so amazing to be in a place where there’s no network coverage. We learned how to travel safely at night and developed immense self-confidence.

We were hesitant at first but the whole experience was so liberating. We went back home with memories of a lifetime and stronger bonds of friendship.

How did you take up blogging?

I have been saying this on my blog too, that I always have something to say.  So I thought of recording my experiences on paper. I wanted to become a writer while growing up but I ended up graduating in fashion. So there was always an inclination towards writing but never thought of blogging.

But one day, a friend I met while exploring Dubai, told me to give it a shot. She was into mass communication and she really liked my work. She told me to put up my journey in front of the world. That’s how I started Chaos of a 20 something.

I would consider myself successful if I can inspire even one of my readers, through my journey, to take up their passion and live the life they love.

What’s your advice to people who wish to travel but think they can’t?

Well, I have only four words for them, “Just pack and leave”. You will be hesitant at first but when you go out and see the world, you will be glad that you went.

They say that the only flight you will ever regret is the one you didn’t take. Don’t worry about discomfort, budget or anything else because everything can be worked out. I always tell people that you can plan a trip with whatever amount of money you have. And the discomfort if any, will make you a better person after each trip.

This has been my personal experience and I recommend you to at least start with a place nearby. You will definitely get the confidence afterward. I’d like to end with one of my favorite quotes that says, “Travel may take you out of your comfort zone but monotony will kill you”.

Thanks, Sanjani! It was lovely meeting you and getting to know your stories.

You can follow Sanjani’s blog here: Chaos Of A 20 Something

She’s also on Instagram as @chaosofa20something and on Twitter as @chaosofa20

If you missed last week’s traveler story, you can read it here. If you are enjoying this series, please show your love by hitting the ‘Like’ button. I’d also love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share in the comments below!

Like it? Pin it!