"Don't tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have travelled." — Mohammed
As countries around the world enter into their second round of lockdowns due to the everlasting nature of COVID-19, it may start to seem like travel is a distant memory. However, we’re finding comfort during these tough times by focusing on the positives that have come out of our travels up to this point!
We truly believe that travel is one of the best things you can do for your personal growth, and no, it does not have to be international! Traveling to a new state or even a new city within your state can reap some of these same benefits if you put in the effort to push yourself out of your comfort zone. The intention is more important than the destination.
Read on to see the top 5 reasons we think travel is so beneficial for personal growth:
1. You experience first-hand how other people live:
There is a whole world outside of that daily bubble you are so accustomed to, and nothing is better at giving you that perspective than travel. More specifically, when you visit a new country, culture shock is not uncommon because day-to-day life can be very different. Here are some examples of culture shock we have experienced in our European travels to date:
-Don’t expect ice in your drinks
-Free refills or tap water? Nope
-Don’t expect air conditioning
-Don’t assume everyone speaks English
-Public toilets often aren’t free to use
-Don’t order cappuccinos after breakfast time
-& many more!
The positive here is that you will learn and realize that your previous understanding of something does not always apply.
2. You meet new & interesting people:
Some of our favorite travel memories involve simply meeting new people along the way. Whether it’s chatting with a local shop owner, starting a conversation with people sitting next to you at a restaurant, or asking someone for directions, you never know what will come out of a new connection. We still keep in touch with some of the people we have met while traveling through social media.
Funny story —
We were eating dinner at a restaurant in Costa Del Sol, Spain, and the man sitting next to us kept saying that Pam was a doppelgänger for Sandra Bullock (she actually gets this all the time). He insisted on taking a photo with her that resulted in a pretty hilarious photo shoot you can see below...
3. You push yourself out of your comfort zone:
All of those culture shock experiences we discussed earlier are sure to push you out of your comfort zone! However, for some people, getting out of your comfort zone can be as simple as stepping on that plane or leaving the city or town you live in.
You may only be in that new place one time, so make sure you do what you want to do and see what you want to see!
4. You can see history with your own eyes:
As self-proclaimed history buffs, this is a big one! An experience like seeing the Colosseum (standing since 70 AD) or Pompeii (where Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD) with your own eyes is hard to put into words. It really puts into perspective how much has occurred in the exact spot you are standing in. It also makes us think about how small our time here really is in the grand scheme of things. The best education can definitely happen outside of the classroom because nothing beats seeing those historic landmarks in person.
5. You gain confidence:
Travel has greatly improved our overall confidence by making us more comfortable in taking risks. Of course, there will be things you dislike or that make you feel uncomfortable. That comes with the territory. At the end of the day, the confidence you gain during these experiences definitely translates into everyday life once you return home.
So, do you agree with these 5 reasons? What other reasons do you think make travel beneficial for personal growth? Let us know in the comments! We are counting the days (impatiently) until we can travel internationally again.
Thank you for reading!
Nikki + Pam
