A couple years ago, I found myself going through a bit of a rough patch. In hindsight, it was a period of growth. I wasn't feeling "myself" after experiencing a serious breakup and death in the family. The classic questions arose in my mind "Who am I? What's the point of this? What am I going to do with my life? How can I get out of this negative mindset?"
After realizing how lost I felt, I shared my frustrations with a friend. I expressed my desire by saying "I just want to hop on a plane. It'll help me find who I am. It will let me be free again!"
Their response still resonates with me! My friend said "Heather, I understand you like to travel, but you need to understand that you're trying to escape your reality. Sure, you can plan a getaway, but you're still going to be in the same shitty situation when you get back."
Was that true? Was traveling my therapy? Was I physically trying to run (or fly) away from my problems? It made me feel guilty.
Even after that conversation, I hopped on yet another plane... but those words stayed in the back of my mind.
Years down the road, I think I've finally figured out my response. I don't feel guilty for using travel as my therapy. For me, traveling helps me reset because I find myself best when I get lost in the world. No, I'm not talking about laying on a beach at an all-inclusive resort. I'm talking about the trips that bring meaning, bring perspective, bring culture, and bring clarity.
I have read so many articles about why you shouldn't travel when you're young. "You need to put in the hours first." "You need to figure out what you want in your career foremost, then travel later." "Don't take a year off of school to see the world, you'll get off track." My opinion? Ignore them all.
Get on a plane.
Why?
1. You'll experience places you've never even imagined.
We've all seen those Windows background of the bright blue oceans or the incredible landscapes. It's easy to visit a well-known city, but when you explore while you're traveling, you'll find places you never even knew existed. You can scan the Internet, airport magazines, and travel brochures to find exciting places, but nothing can compare to the feeling of stumbling upon a mountain view after getting lost in Austria or the most delicious food at a gas station in Hungary.
One of the most defining moments in my life was standing on a cliff in Swaziland, overlooking mountains in Africa, realizing how big God was. I standing in a place I hadn't before conceptualized the possibility of that much beauty.
2. You'll have incredible adventures (and stories to tell).
Did you know I had an Irishman fly 4,000 miles to take me to dinner? Ask me about it sometime (and apologize to my mother about her grey hair).
I got lost in the Alps with no water and only some SPF 50 sunscreen on my back? Let me tell you about what I learned.
My best friend and I had an Uber driver drive us across Washington D.C. as we had a rap battle in the back seat. It was all fun and games until I lost my sunglasses.
Traveling helps you create once in a lifetime memories.
3. It puts life in perspective.
Are you used to the comforts of a modern world? Are you used to having Uber, Starbucks, and your credit card at the tip of your fingers? How about running water and air conditioning? Most of the things you take for granted aren't even imagined by people on the other side of the world. Traveling exposes you to other cultures, ways of life, and heartaches. The world is SO big and there are SO many people in different areas of the world that are waiting to meet you.
4. Traveling makes you mentally resilient (and more creative)!
The first time I hopped on a plane traveling alone, I remember feeling giddy with excitement and was extremely intimidated. Facing unknown situations in unfamiliar places will make you tough! Try figuring out the train system in Germany and you'll know what I mean...
Traveling helps your patience and your flexibility. If something goes unplanned, you have the opportunity to teach yourself to adapt. What if it rains the one day you were planning to be in Paris? Find an alternative route.. Your creativity will spark and you'll soon be on an adventure you never imagined! Then you'll come home and handle things with a little more grace..
5. People
No matter how culturally diverse you claim to be, until you travel, you'll only be scratching the surface. There are traditions, food, ceremonies, unique history, and artifacts you can't even dream of until you're exposed to them first-hand.
Now, I look more forward to the people I meet when I travel than the places I see. Stories and personal testimonies are the most vulnerable and valuable thing I collect from my journies. When you travel, you get to build relationships. You'll be so surprised how well you can get to know a person by sitting next to them in a pub, airport, or interacting with the person you sit next to on the bus. Some of the most impressive and inspiration people I know have been strangers.
No blog post can summarize the benefits of seeing the world. There is so much beauty in creation. There are so many people to meet, so many places to see, and so many adventures to be had! You just have to stop making excuses, get out, and go...
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