Travel is a very personal experience that affects each individual differently. And the type of travel, as well as the reason one travels, has a huge impact on that. Sometimes it excites or enlightens and sometimes it relaxes and cures us. It really all depends on the who, what, where and why of it. But one thing that I can say for certain – that for the majority of us who travel for the love of travel itself – is that it changes us. And those changes can be barely noticeable or completely life altering. I would also say – that for the most part – that change is positive. Which is why I am putting this down in print – to encourage those that travel religiously to keep doing so and to urge those who rarely see past their own city or even neighborhood – to incorporate travel into your life in any way you can.
So, what are some of the ways that you can expect to be changed by traveling? There are far too many to list here but I would love to touch on some of the most basic, yet important changes that I have experienced or that others have shared with me as changes that have occurred in their lives thanks to a particular trip. Read on to see three main reasons how travel changes you and feel free to add yours in the comments below.
It Breeds Self-Confidence
Anytime you leave your comfort zone you are ultimately adding another layer of confidence to your persona. And traveling is almost always taking you out of that zone – because you are going to some place you have never been before – in other words – you are going into the unknown. The unknown can be scary in certain scenarios but in travel it is exhilarating. It is arriving in a city, town, country or continent where you may not know a soul. You may not even speak their language. But you go there anyway, and you show up with itinerary in hand and you see, smell, taste, hear and feel everything you came there to. And whether you are traveling solo or with a group – the experience is entirely of your doing. You chose the destination, you got on the plane, you left your little corner of the world and conquered a new corner. And whether or not you considered it as such before – it takes confidence to travel. And once you do – it will breed more confidence. Not only to journey to other new places – but in so many other aspects of your life as well. And who couldn’t use a little bit more self-confidence? A boost in self-esteem is a welcome change no matter who you are.
It Humbles and Inspires
There are many destinations – some of the Caribbean islands that I have visited in particular come to mind – that surprise visitors upon arrival. And by that, I mean that you go there – prepared for the sprawling resort with the swim up bar, the oceanfront view, the fine dining and the white sand beach – yet at times the first thing you notice is not even close to what your final destination is going to look like. The ride from the airport to your accommodations often takes you through the reality, the real world, the everyday life of its inhabitants. In some cases, its no where near as pretty or perfect as that all-inclusive you are headed to. The poverty and lack of modern conveniences can be startling – but in so many of these places when you look closer you will see that the people there are smiling. When you take the time to talk and interact with the locals – you will not hear complaining. You will hear tales of how they make it work. You will see pride in the job they do – whether it is creating handicrafts to sell to the tourists or serving you drinks by the pool. And how can that not humble and inspire you? When you have the means, the opportunity to travel to their homeland and stay in fabulous hotels – no matter how little you think you may have otherwise – you are there on vacation. This is their reality. And they are making the best of it and are probably enjoying life more than a lot of us who have so much more. It not only humbles me – but inspires me to do better – to be better. Instead of bartering I will pay extra for that trinket. Instead of complaining that I didn’t get enough hand towels I will leave a larger tip for housekeeping. And once I am home – I will continue to do better. And that is a change that everyone can be proud of.
It Makes You More Appreciative
Gratitude. Thankfulness. Appreciation. Three especially important attitudes in my life. And anything that causes a swing from not being grateful for – or even just taking for granted something that we should thank the universe for each and every day – is a change for the better. After all, “Gratitude turns what we have into enough. – Anonymous.” Once you start traveling the world – or even the country – and possibly even other parts of your state – you start to see that no matter how bad you may think you have it – someone always has it worse. And that does not have to be depressing. Because like I noted above – you will also find that most people who don’t have what you have – are still happy and enjoying life. And that is for the simple fact that they appreciate what they do have. When you are grateful, when you are appreciative, when you are truly thankful for what you have – life becomes a blessing. Because the more things you appreciate the more you find to appreciate and the happier and perhaps even more important – the more content you will become. And whether you realize it or not – being happy and content is pretty much what all of us aspire for everyday of our lives. Any goal we may have or the intentions we set – are always with the end result being that these goals or intentions will bring to us happiness and contentment. And that is a change for good.
My friends I want you to know that travel is a blessing in so many ways – for the changes discussed above and so very much more. I sincerely feel travel is that important and that change is good for the soul. And I want you to know that I am always here for you to help you decide where you would like to go to next to experience some of these and other changes that will truly enrich your life. Contact me today and let’s get started on creating the perfect vacation for you in 2021.
Yours in Travel,
Thia
