Just after finishing college my biddy James Haidak and me hit the road and went on a 3 month tour through southern Europe and north Africa in what was the most eye opening experience I have ever had. That trip really gave me the travel bug and since then I have visited over 100 countries. It is firmly my belief that every should have gone traveling at some point in their lives and I am not one of those who just thinks that traveling is for young people, it is for everyone.
Here is why I believe that traveling is an essential experience.
Out of the Bubble
There is something about escaping the bubble that you live in which changes you and your outlook on life. When you get away from everything that is familiar to you, your brain must react and these are the small changes which take place in your character. It is vital that you get out of your comfort zone and the things that are easy for you, and go challenge yourself in a country with different language and traditions.
Reflection
There are a lot of things which you will see when you travel that really make you reflect on your own life. When you watch different cultures who have a different approach to things, it stops in you in your tracks little and makes you think ‘why can’t I do that’? Something else which can happen is that you see some people with very difficult lives and it will make you appreciate yours far more when you see it.
Health Benefits
Traveling is actually a very healthy thing to do and there have even been studies done which show that those who have regularly traveled generally live longer. This is because they have been exposed to different bacterias and their immune system has beefed up as a result. Another way in which you can consider travel healthy is that you are much more on the go, each day is a new experience and you will find yourself walking more and taking on more physical activities which you perhaps wouldn’t be if you were at home.
Meeting People
When you only know people from your own country, state or town, you aren’t really casting your net very wide in terms of meeting different sorts of people. When you travel you not only meet people from the country you are in, but travelers from all over the world. I have made many great friends through traveling and they are all from different walks of life and different nations. This is an exciting thing to do and finding new friends who are a bit different, will bring something else out in you that perhaps you didn’t realize that you had.
If you ever get the opportunity then I implore you to hit the road and go see the world.