How my grandparents inspired me to travel

I always get the question: “how do you travel so much?” For many (including me), travel always seemed like something that was for the rich. You needed money to travel and only people who “had it all” were able to travel a lot. They had the nice job, the big house, the fancy cars, and took great vacations.

For me, life was simple. My family was simple and my network of people was simple. I grew up in a small town in Minnesota, my extended family on both sides all lived about an hour away tops. I come from a long line of farmers who are good, hardworking people. And I was actually the first in my family to ever attend and graduate college.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved growing up where I did and with the people I did. And I didn’t want for nothing. My parents always pushed me to do better. They gave me the confidence to believe I could do anything I set my mind to, and always told me that things like being from a small town or being female wouldn’t stop me.

Growing up, I didn’t have fancy relatives who traveled the world. Going to another country seemed so unattainable, because no one I knew had done it.

That is, until I found out that wasn’t true.

Meet my grandparents, Roger and Lois. They are your true American love story. They fell in love when they were young, moved into a farmhouse, and raised 3 kids while running a farm full time. They now have 6 grandkids and 5 great-grandkids. My grandpa has now passed on, and we miss him dearly every single day. He loved my grandma more than I’ve ever seen someone else love another person.

Life was simple until my grandpa had a farm accident in 1999. He slipped off a tractor and became paralyzed from the waist down. I was 8 years old. A tragedy like this hadn’t happened to my family since I’d been alive.

I remember lots of hospital visits, I remember lots of crying, I remember hearing he would never walk again, and I remember him always saying “just keep smiling!” regardless of the situation. I remember my grandpa making friends with everyone in the rooms next to him, especially a young teenage girl who was a cheerleader and now found herself in the same state as my grandpa.

But one thing that always stuck out to me was remembering my grandparents say “I’m glad we traveled when we did.”

I was a quiet kid, and really took in my surroundings, always trying to understand what things truly meant.

So, I started asking questions. “What is that girl going to do?” “How come Grandpa can walk with a walker now when the doctors said he wouldn’t be able to?” “Why are you glad you traveled before?” Where did you travel to?” I especially wanted to know more about my grandparent’s travels as they are humble people and I never heard them talk much about it.

Being 8 years old and seeing this first-hand really instilled a “live life to the fullest” mindset in me.

Over the years, I discovered more and more about them. They took a road trip out west for their honeymoon. They visited state parks and took these amazing photos that I will treasure forever.

While they were raising their kids and running a farm, they took time to explore the Midwest. No extravagant vacations, but they made it a priority and got out and explore. They traveled within their means while making great memories as a family.

Once their kids grew up, they traveled even more. They traveled together and with friends all over the US to Nashville, Vegas, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, California, Colorado, Florida, and much more.

But most of all, I loved hearing their stories about the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii. These were the furthest places my grandparents visited and I loved hearing about how things were different than where I lived.

My grandparents taught me that you never know what life is going to throw at you. You need to live it to your fullest and not wait for the perfect time to do something you dream about. It will never be the perfect time.

After the accident, they always told me to “travel while you’re young” because they were so glad they did. And every time I would send them a photo or tell them about a trip they would say “you’re doing it right!”

Because my grandparents traveled, it made it so much more real to me. If they could do it, why not me? And why not share this with others so it’s more attainable for them, too?

I see myself as picking up where my grandparents left off, exploring the beautiful state of Minnesota, the Midwest, and the world!

So, you could say that travel is instilled in me. My grandparents really made me value it. But it’s not always easy and it takes prioritization. I choose to travel versus have other things in my life.