All of a sudden, I’m coming home. It’s kind of surreal—the trip was originally supposed to end in late April. Now I’ll be back in the US tomorrow, for the first time in 7 months.

In every way, this journey has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s difficult for me to process right now as the end has come so soon and unexpectedly, but looking back on almost a year’s worth of travel to all 7 continents, there’s been an overarching constant.

The world is big. With modern travel we are able to cover vast distances, but it’s still possible to appreciate the Earth’s scale. I’ve taken 10 hour flights that only get you to the next continent, and crossed an ocean and back on a ship for 2 weeks. There’s a lot of Earth out there.

The world is beautiful. The falls of Iguazu are literally awesome. The art and architecture in Europe spawns existential epiphanies. And you can’t picture a more serene beach than the innumerable ones dotting Asia. We could not ask for a more beautiful planet.

The world is amazing. It’s impossible to describe the diversity of both flora and fauna across the globe, from blue-footed boobies and red lakes to limitless savannas and serval cats to gigantic coral reefs and kangaroos. Our world is so unique we’re not even capable of fathoming it.

Most of all, the world is one. No matter where you visit, you see all life adapting to their environment, thriving with the will to survive. You see that humans are one species of millions on this planet, and that we have a place within the global ecosystem.

Our petty self-perceived differences equate to nothing when seeing the whole world. We share so many more similarities than differences. We all need food and shelter and love. We all laugh and cry and smile the same.

It is clear: huge key issues of vital importance affect all of us together, regardless of nationality, age, gender, or culture. Weather and disease do not discriminate between us.

To keep our world big and beautiful and amazing and one, we must change. We must focus on how we live, how we interact with the rest of the planet, and how we view the world and ourselves. Climate Change and Education and Equality and Openness and Global Consciousness will only be achieved if we unite together. We must inspire each other to change.

This is what I’ve found while traveling around the world. It has been the most meaningful journey of my life. Now that I’m coming home, it’s time for a new journey to start. Will you join me?