We all know it: the worst part of travelling is saying goodbye.

Travelling opens you up to a whole new part of yourself, and sometimes, the people who experience this new coming of age with you are more important than the elephant you were riding, or the shakes you were drinking, or the mountain you were boarding when you realized your own potential.

So.. to help cope with the pain, I have created a little list of things to do (or not do) and tips to remember.

1. Always Remember: The world is not that big.
If you think about it, the distance between you and your loved one is a mere plane ride away. Sure, there are the concerns of money, the demands of time and work, but when it comes down to it, the people who are important enough to stay in your life, will. Even if it takes a few years to be able to see them again.

2. No one here is dying. (Cross your fingers).
Do not let yourself get carried away with the sad, morose thought that you will never, EVER again see the people that you meet and fall in love with while travelling. Think about when you will see them. Because if you want it bad enough, you will.

3. Do NOT, under any circumstances, drink your sorrows away.
DO NOT, ESPECIALLY, drink your sorrows away on the airplane after you've said your goodbyes. Take it from me, landing in another country with a hangover and red, puffy eyes is not a good way to start another exciting adventure.

4. Wear your heart on your backpack.
Many travellers will tell you the opposite, saying that letting yourself care for someone will hinder your progress and keep you from fully enjoying your travels. I come from a different school, and I think that letting yourself love and be loved while travelling is just as important as eating, or finding a place to sleep. (And sometimes, you can combine all three!)

5. That being said, be careful who you give your heart to. Remember that above all else, you are travelling for you.

6. Begin to enjoy saying goodbye, knowing that it's the first step to saying hello again.
Throw parties at every town you leave, invite all of your friends to come out. Take pictures, take shots (but see numbers 3 and 5), have a blast. Remember your time is much better spent enjoying every last second you have then crying about the time you don't have.

7. Get e-mail addresses and USE THEM. This is probably the most simple, yet most unappreciated tip. I cannot tell you how many times I have given out an e-mail address and then seen/ heard nothing (and vice-versa). It's such a bummer! However, for those that are truly special to you, send a quick e-mail during your work day or when you have a moment just to say hello. It's so simple these days!

8. Make it a point to keep in touch with as many people as possible, because you never know where they might be in the world. Maybe, when you're in a tiny village in Kenya, they're just down the road.

9. Talk to everyone. Everywhere. And remember these conversations.
This is perhaps the best tip for travelling that I can offer. Although it does make it harder to say goodbye in the end, at least you know you really put yourself out there, and that you really got to meet some awesome people. Write these conversations down, take photos. This is a blessing.

10. When you're crying at the airport, and people are giving you funny looks, embrace the moment. Cry, harder than anyone ever has.... Then laugh at yourself.

You are so, so lucky to have something so special to cry about.

From one gypsy to the other....

Goodbye!