Okay, full disclosure – this isn’t something you can buy on Amazon or REI, although I do have plenty “must pack” items that I will certainly post about down the line. However, to start things off I have to share something personal because who needs boundaries?

This all begins with my first big solo trip to Europe back in 2010. I had traveled internationally before, but this was the first time I didn’t have a plan beyond the first few weeks and would being doing most of it solo. It was equal parts exciting and terrifying. Logically I knew many had done this before me and come away with the best of memories, but I had never done it so it was a bit daunting.

Since I was going to be flying to Europe out of the East Coast I decided to take the opportunity to visit family on the way. Nothing out of the ordinary for this visit: nice dinners, some card games, and plain old good quality time. But, that’s not what this story is about. This is about a gift I received during this short visit and the amazing woman who gave it to me.

My parents had a good friend from the years when they lived on the East Coast. Her name was Marsha. I loved Marsha. She had the most wonderful sense of humor, an infectious laugh, and loved nothing more than a good meal with friends and family. I had arranged to meet her for breakfast one of the days I was there. Nothing pretentious, just your good ol’ neighborhood Dennys. We got to talking about my travels and how nervous I was to be doing most of it by myself. In her exactly Marsha way she just shrugged her shoulders, laughed her uniquely Marsha laugh and said, “Kid, you’ll do great. You’re gonna love it.” I can still see precisely how she looked and sounded in that moment because I knew it was true. It was gonna be great, I would love it.

This is when she gave me what would eventually become my travel totem for any future trips I would take. It was a simple pendant necklace. The pendant made of red Jade with an engraved picture of a tiger on one side and then 4 Chinese characters on the other. I wish I could remember where it originated from, I got the sense she had had it for a while and was now passing it on to me. She said, “to bring you luck on your travels, although I have no idea what it actually says.” I put it on that day and have worn it for every adventure, big and small, ever since.

Two years later I was of course wearing it while in Asia. My good friend Lin, who was with me throughout our 4 weeks in China, asked me about it. I told her the origin story and she kindly shared with me what the characters meant: A life of peace and safety. Pretty perfect as a travel accessory if you ask me.

I was going to visit that same friend in California for a Chinese New Year celebration. Out of curiosity I started to look into the Lunar New Year calendar a bit more. You see, while the Zodiac signs generally fall in line with specific years, Tiger was 1986, Rabbit 1987, Dragon 1988, so on, the new zodiac symbol doesn’t start until the actual New Year does. You wanna guess when the year of the Rabbit actually began in 1987? January 29th. You wanna guess when my birthday is? January 28. So I have been a Tiger this whole time. Perhaps it’s all coincidence, but I like to think its more than that.

I tell this story not just because it is meaningful to me, but also because I think it’s important for every traveler, every person, to have something to carry with them that brings them comfort along their journey. Perhaps its a camera, a journal, a lucky scarf. It could be a prayer or belief in something greater. Whatever it is for you my friend I hope you find it, hold it, and keep it and that it brings you peace and safety.