If you haven’t noticed around here at FME, I’m a HUGE advocate for travel.
Traveling has literally transformed my life into what it is today. It’s opened my eyes up to new cultures, new ideas, a new way of life, and ultimately has helped me grow as a person.
With all that said, here’s a few ways in which travel has changed me or how I’ve seen it change other people.
I could write a novel about this, but I’ll stick to the main ways in which travel makes the biggest changes in peoples’ lives.
Socially
When you travel (or at least when I do) you’re forced to put yourself out there more often then at home.
Especially traveling alone. Most people can only hack being alone for a few days, TOPS.
Unless you want to sit around staring at a wall, you’re going to have to become outgoing. By introducing yourself to the stranger next to you, you open yourself up to new opportunities, new people, and a far more interesting conversation then that with a wall. It enhances any trip tenfold, trust me.
I can’t tell you how many long lasting friendships I’ve made by introducing myself to a fellow backpacker in the hostel lobby or bar. I try this same maneuver at home and it doesn’t work as well. However, most travelers are incredibly welcoming and looking to meet new people just like you. It’s the perfect storm for meeting friends from across the globe.
Are you shy? Traveling totally helps you overcome that fear or whatever it is that’s causing shyness.
Its happened to me and many, many other travelers just like me. You start off a little nervous, maybe a bit scared to make that first introduction. But before you know it, you’re surrounded by almost complete strangers, yet somehow they’ve become your closest friends over the last 20 minutes. Crazy how that happens when you travel.
And that overcoming of shyness then transitions to your life back home. Traveling literally kicks down that wall of shyness because quite simply, there’s no room for it. There’s too much fun to be had and too many cool people to meet.
Along with becoming more outgoing, travel teaches you to do things you would never consider before.
It puts you outside your comfort zone and ultimately allows you to grow as a person. This can include new experiences, new food, interacting with new types of people, etc.
In my opinion, the #1 best way to intensify your travel experiences as well as come way with memories that last a lifetime is get out of your comfort zone.
Try something new and wacky.
Be spontaneous.
In the end, more often then not, it will be something you’re glad you did.
Ever ate a beating snake heart? Before Vietnam, I would’ve said no.
What about ride a walrus in Cape Town? Check.
How about white water raft down a raging river full of Africa’s deadliest animal, the hippopotamus, and crocodiles? Been there, done that, was flipped out of the raft, and survived to tell the tale.
Seriously, the list goes on and on the more you travel. And for me, the opportunities get more and more ridiculous.
That’s the very essence of travel, isn’t it? Because if you just wanted to sit around and do the same old thing, you’d do that on your couch at home.
Traveling also helps you overcome financial limits.
Financially, travel first teaches you how to save those pennies and dimes to get out and jet-set in the first place.
I traveled around the world all of 2010. And I cherished that year much more because I knew I spent the last 2 years saving up to be traveling. Although it would’ve been nice to be given a huge chunk of change, I think it’s much more gratifying when you’ve earned and saved the money yourself.
And then once there, you’re forced to budget and monitor your expenses (unless you’re one of those lucky trust fund babies). You’re literally on your own and there’s nobody looking out for you except you, so I suppose it’s time to take some responsibility.
I witnessed so many people on my travels seriously strapped for cash. I wondered to myself, how can they be that skint? Didn’t they know they were running out of money before they actually got there? Sometimes (not all the time) I think it comes down to people not taking responsibility for themselves and expecting to be bailed out by some unfortunate soul.
Verifiably
Travel isn’t always easy. And it’s not always fun and games (although it’s more often than not). You’re sleeping at odd hours, always on the move, and constantly being bombarded by sensory overload.In reality, it’s quite tough on the body.
Personally, I’ve learned to go with the flow and not stress too much. My 26 hour bus ride with chickens running down the center isle has just turned into 32 hours? No problem, just take another Tylenol P.M. and sleep blissfully away.
To be honest, I’ve found most stress to be unwarranted. Many problems are out of your control anyways, especially when traveling.
You’ve got two choices: Fix/overcome the issue or stress. I prefer the former.
This has transitioned into my overall lifestyle. It’s much better than being on edge all the time.
Travel can also be the perfect reason or motivation to start working on your health, or the perfect kick-start to a health regime.
That bus seat feeling a bit tight? I couldn’t think of a better time to start burning some calories and transforming yourself into that lean, mean, traveling machine.
On the flip side, there’s the mental aspect to traveling. To put it bluntly, travel is a total mind trip!
Although I’ve become accustomed to it, it’s very hard to say goodbye to travel friends. You’re constantly with these people and by the end, you feel closer to travel amigos than your best friends. It’s crazy how a bond can grow so tightly over such a small period of time, but it does.
Travel has taught me to cherish the times I’ve had and look forward to the future. Rather than dwell on what was, I look forward to what will be.
And that’s the whole point isn’t it?
The list is limitless to the amount of fabulous places, incredible people, and amazing things to do out in this big world of ours. The future looks ever more promising as traveling is becoming easier for all of us. So get out there and do it! Nobody is stopping you.
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You forgot to put up a picture of me and say “this is the coolest guy in the world and I never would have met him if I hadn’t become a travel bum.” That’s okay, I figure it was intentional since you will devote your next blog entirely to me. Cool man, can’t wait to read it.