Dublin, Ireland

I recently traveled to Dublin, Ireland and although I will give you some tips on what I explored while I was there, this post is going to be more or less about adaptability and perspective. The Merriam-Webster definition of adapt is simply, “to make fit (as for a new use) often by modification.” For me, adaptability is required when traveling abroad. We become accustomed to familiarity because it makes us feel safe, but it can also completely halt your growth on a spiritual & emotional level. I’ve always said the one thing I enjoy most about traveling is seeing how other people in the world live; what their challenges are and what makes them thrive. When you’re exposed to positive observations it may inspire you & when you see hardships it humbles you and instills a sense of gratitude like no other. I live in 1 out of the total 193 countries we have on planet earth- so I refuse to be so naive to think that there isn’t so much more out there for me to discover. We often associate success with monetary items or status, but you quickly realize the definition of success varies greatly. A successful life in the eyes of other people around the world is rejuvenating because most of the times its quantified by the love, joy, and happiness that surrounds them. This rang true when interacting with the jovial Irish people who were so welcoming and shared their stories with us. They endured struggles, but were still so happy and found humor in this crazy life. So, as the great Oscar Wilde wrote “we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” I urge you to make yourself uncomfortable, dive into the fear of the unknown, and find the positive in all situations.

As for traveling in Ireland, I would suggest keeping your time in Dublin short. The city is very walkable and you can easily see most of what you want in a day. Tourist attractions include Temple Bar, Guinness Storehouse, or the Jameson Distillery but The Long Room located inside the Book of Kells Exhibition at Trinity College was a truly beautiful experience being among the works of some of the greatest writers to have ever lived.

After you get your city fix, head to a smaller city such as Galway. My favorite part was the day trip from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher. It was a full 12 hour day, driving across the country and stopping in towns such as Bunratty, Kinvara, and Doolin. These were your quintessential Irish towns with sprawling green acres and local pubs and more of what I imagined Ireland to be like.