"Si no sales de la caja en la que has sido criado, no entenderás lo mucho más grande que es el mundo."

Sometimes we get so comfortable in our little corners of the world that we forget there's a whole lot more out there. This idea is all about stepping outside of your comfort zone to truly see and understand the vastness and variety that life has to offer. It's like being in a room with the curtains drawn—you think that's all there is. But if you pull them back, you realize there's an entire world outside your window.

Think back to when this idea really hit home for me. I was 18, fresh out of high school, and hadn’t traveled much beyond my hometown. I had this small view of what life was—essentially confined to what I knew in my little bubble. Then, I took a gap year and traveled to Europe on a shoestring budget. It was eye-opening. Experiencing different cultures, meeting new people, and seeing places I'd only read about in textbooks made me realize how limited my perspective had been.

One vivid example of this concept in action is a friend of mine from college. Let’s call him Jake. Jake grew up in a small town with a population of just a few thousand people. His parents, his grandparents, and probably their parents too had all lived there. Jake was set to follow the same path until he decided to study abroad in Tokyo for a semester. Imagine the culture shock: from a quiet, rural town to one of the busiest cities in the world. It was overwhelming at first, but Jake embraced it. He discovered a love for Japanese cuisine, picked up some of the language, and even learned about different work ethics and social norms. When he came back, you could tell he was different—more open-minded, more curious, and definitely more aware of the world beyond his hometown.

So, how can you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start small. You don’t need to move to the other side of the world to get out of your box. Begin by trying new things within your reach. Attend a cultural festival in your city, try out a cuisine you’ve never had before, or even read books from authors of different nationalities. The key is to expose yourself to experiences and perspectives that are different from your own.

Let me paint a picture for you. Imagine you're sitting in your favorite coffee shop, the one you go to every day. It’s cozy, familiar, and you know exactly what to order without even looking at the menu. But what if, just for once, you walked into that new café down the block? The one with the strange name and the unfamiliar smells. You might discover a new favorite drink, or strike up a conversation with someone who shares an interest you never knew you had. That’s what it’s like to get out of your box.

We all have our own boxes, shaped by our upbringing, our routines, our fears. But the world is so much bigger than we often let ourselves see. It’s not always easy—stepping out can be daunting and uncomfortable. Yet, it’s worth it. Because once you do, you’ll find that life is richer, fuller, and far more interesting than you ever imagined. So, go on. Pull back the curtains and step outside. The world is waiting.