There is no greater feeling than having your bags packed and knowing you’re ready to go on your next adventure. There are few things in life that will impact you as much as traveling will. Something happens to us when we board a plane in one country and land in another—it’s almost as if our eyes open again for the first time. The excitement and life experiences that happen when you travel are unlike anything else. It’s hard to capture in words the moment when you see the sunset when you finally can understand what someone is saying in another language. These moments are transformative; they take us out of our element and remind us of why we are here.Â
1. You broaden your perspective.
Nothing changes the way you view your own life experience like seeing the way other people live. Not only will you be more appreciative and thankful for the life you have, you’ll also have a new sense of wonder and empathy for other cultures and countries. Soak in the language, the lifestyle and what people in foreign countries value—you’ll realize it’s different everywhere in the world and it will undoubtedly make you evaluate your own values.
2. You learn to live in the moment.
Whether you are seeing the canals of Venice for the first time or the pyramids of Egypt, traveling teaches you to take in the moment of awe and make the most of it. Traveling is a feast for your eyes and it makes you stop and live in that second, minute and moment. It’s hard to be thinking about your latest text message when you’re halfway across the world visiting places you’ve never been to before and seeing spots you’ve only read about. Traveling teaches us to unplug, explore and discover new parts of ourselves.
3. You value experience over things.
Once you’re hooked on traveling and understand its true power, you know that looking up at the Eiffel Tower or seeing the beaches in Thailand out-values any merchandise you could ever possibly purchase. Instead of buying a luxurious car, you invest in what’s more important to you—seeing places you haven’t been to yet and immersing yourself in new cultures. Travel doesn’t become something you do—it’s a way of life.
4. You learn to roll with things.
Almost everyone has experienced a time when their flight was delayed or cancelled or they lost their luggage—and the beauty in this frustrating moment is that it teaches you to deal with it. The sooner you learn to roll with whatever challenges come your way, the sooner you’ll be carefree, happy to move onto your next new adventure. Learning how to be calm and not grow frustrated or upset when a flight is canceled or when dealing with the array of travel issues people face is probably one of the most valuable skills you can acquire that will not only apply to travel, but the rest of your life. You quickly learn that you can handle most situations and that there really aren’t a lot of things worth getting upset about.
5. You are more open to different ways of life.
No country or even city lives the same way. Countries have different cultures, and people have different beliefs, but when you travel, you see that no matter how different people are or the way they live, there is inherent goodness in most people. It’s the common thread that ties us all together.
