I think it’s safe to say that we all enjoy vacationing. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be lounging on the beach, listening to the sound of the ocean, with a pina colada in hand.
There is a huge difference between vacationing and traveling, in my opinion. Traveling is much more than relaxing on the beach or at the hotel pool. Traveling is about immersing yourself in new cultures and customs, and experiencing new cuisines and meeting new people. It feeds your soul and allows you to grow as a person. Travel can be challenging, but I’d much rather travel than vacation. That being said, I’ve come up with a list of six reasons why I travel and why you should travel too.
Traveling is fun
Okay, so this is an obvious one. But, traveling is fun - plain and simple. You get to step away from work or school and responsibilities. You get to explore new cities, new towns, new beaches and enjoy being in the present moment. You get to come back from a long day of exploring and just relax- maybe even by the hotel pool or on the beach with a pina colada in hand. You get to eat at different restaurants everyday and, for some, you can go to bars or clubs every night. And, the best part, you get to wake up and do it all over again. Sounds pretty good to me!
Traveling allows you to step out of your comfort zone
Traveling allows you to step out of your comfort zone. It allows you to be in the present moment and not dwell on the past or fear for the future. There are so many unknowns and uncertainties while traveling. You do things that you may not have done if you were home. I mean, let’s say you’re afraid of heights but you traveled all the way to Paris. Would you really let your fear stop you from going to the top of the Eiffel Tower? I know I wouldn’t . . .and I didn’t.
Traveling challenges you
Traveling also challenges you. You’re sometimes put in tough situations and you have to figure out a solution on your own (or with your travel buddy/buddies). If you’re traveling to a different country, there is most likely a language barrier, and you’ll have to learn how to communicate with the locals. Yes, some locals will know some English, but a lot of people only speak their native language.
Or, you may find out the boat that is supposed to take you to the island where your hotel is on stops running at midnight and you don’t land until 1am, and you end up having to spend the night in a local McDonalds. (Yes that happened and yes we communicated with the hotel ahead with our arrival time, and they told us we were okay (language barrier issues).
Traveling gives you a new perspective
Traveling can change the way you view yourself, the world and the people around you. Traveling allows you to meet and connect with new people from all walks of life. It allows you to immerse yourself in a different culture and learn new values and customs. It opens your eyes to what else is out there and it can really broaden your horizons. There are endless opportunities and possibilities out there. Traveling allows us to find common ground with people who appear to be very different. But honestly, one thing I’ve found true while traveling, is that we’re all a lot more similar than you think. Also, you’re able to expand your food palate by trying new foods. I’m a pretty picky eater when I’m home but I’m able to (and sometimes have to) try new foods while traveling.
Traveling helps you to uncover who you truly are
Traveling gives you the opportunity to reflect on your life. It allows your mind to wander. Each day can bring a new set of issues, challenges and opportunities. The way you handle those will give you insight on your strengths and weaknesses and your likes and dislikes. You’re able to learn so much about yourself along the way and chances are you’ll prove to yourself that you can actually handle anything and everything that comes your way.
Traveling allows you to see all the world has to offer
Okay, I was going to limit this list to five but I had to add this one in as it’s one of the most important reasons why I travel. The world is so magnificent and there’s so much to see. To be able to see some of these incredible sights with your own eyes is truly amazing. And I mean like stop and stare for a solid ten minutes amazing. Sometimes you can’t help but stare. The beauty the world has to offer can be overwhelming. You can look at pictures of the Natural Wonders all day, for example, but the picture is not the same as the real thing.
Traveling means so much to me. The feeling I get while traveling cannot even be described in words. I could go on and on about all the wonderful reasons you should travel but, I’ll leave you with these 6 reasons for now.
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