There is a difference between travel and vacation.
For many, the joy of travel is how deeply immersive it can be. You arrive somewhere, knowing you will be staying for a short while. Travelers tend to learn some of the languages and customs because they have very little intention of staying in any resort. It is about exploring, learning, growing, and personal development. Traveling can often challenge our opinions and perceptions too. Here are a few ways that travel changes you.
Comfort Zone
When you are miles down a dusty, sandy road, and your shoes are filled with grit. You’re hot, sweaty and very sure that this isn’t what you wanted. Then suddenly a few more steps and you reach the peak, or you see the ocean, or you smell the secret taco stand you’ve been searching for. You’ve pushed yourself out of your comfort zone into something great. They say that nothing extraordinary ever happens in your comfort zone, and traveling certainly throws most people out of theirs. In the best of ways.
Perspective
Standing in front of the Taj Mehal, or looking at tea fields, eating sushi in Japan, or even Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam. They make you feel small and alive and full of wonder. When you see how other people live, and what they have been through, it is hard to remain ‘small-minded,,’ and it can make you really appreciate the small comforts your life provides. The values that you think you have, when you travel with passion, can change in a heartbeat. And that is a good thing.
Mindfulness
Without the aid of an app. When you are traveling, you are living only in those moments. Sure you might be thinking about something you have to do tomorrow, and in quiet moments you may ever get thoughtful about the past. But most of the time you will be consumed with the present moments, what you are looking at, tasting or seeing. The chances are you’ll be using your mobile phone less, and your camera more, and even that small unplugged moment will make a big difference to you on many levels.
It’s On You
It’s On YouWhile you might be traveling with friends, family, or significant other – you will still become more self-reliant. You’ll need to navigate new cultures, learn enough of each language to be able to ask for what you need, or at least be polite. Read a map, book tables, hotels, cars, and more. The independence and confidence will grow with each new country that you visit – and it will stay with you long after you return home.
People
Typically, travelers stay in one place for a few weeks. In that time, more travelers tend to come and go. Sometimes you’ll meet people what you just click with. And, the beauty of this is that
