I learned the importance of travel when I was growing up. Even though my trips were within the US to places like Martha’s Vineyard, Florida, and, of course, New York City, I realized that a huge world existed beyond my life in Southeastern PA. When I was 16, I had the opportunity to spend the better part of a summer in the Midwest. I couldn’t believe how different this part of America was, just several states away from where I lived at the time.
I was bitten by the travel bug when I drove cross country the summer before I turned 19. I saw so much on that journey and caught a glimpse of life in the South, Southwest, and, of course, the West Coast. Finally, in my twenties, I ventured across the pond, and came back home a changed person. I saw how travel influences our views of the world, our tolerance of other cultures, and our need to feel connected to people no matter how different they look, act, or speak. In the world we live in today, I believe that travel is more important than it’s ever been, and here’s why.
TRAVEL …
Gives us the opportunity to meet new people.
Whether traveling alone or in a group, I can promise that travel brings new friends along the way. Making friends is one of the hidden advantages of travel.
Teaches us about ourselves.
Opening ourselves up to learn about other people and the way in which they live helps us learn about ourselves. We form our belief systems and opinions. We discover that we can do things we didn’t think we could, and we become better people in the process.
Builds self-confidence and encourages independence.
I’ve always been a fairly independent person, and I think I can somewhat attribute that independence to taking trips alone. Whether I was flying home for the holidays, flying to London to meet up with friends, or driving long distances by myself, those solo adventures have given me an autonomy and a confidence that I wouldn’t have developed otherwise.
Enriches our lives.
Eating foods we’ve never eaten; seeing sights we’ve only read about in books; experiencing the cultures of distant places, whether domestic or abroad –– all have the ability to make us more well-rounded individuals so we can lead richer lives.
Shows us that people are more alike than we thought.
I believe that most individuals want the same things out of life no matter where they’re born or what language they speak. Love. Family. Friendship. Support. Happiness. Success. Stability. Peace. Maya Angelou once said, ‘Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.
Unifies.
Travel remains the most obvious way to bring people from around the world together, whether sharing a meal, learning to speak their language, or simply observing and appreciating their customs and cultures. There’s no activity that is a greater unifier than travel. In the words of a dear old friend from Newcastle Upon Tyne, England –– ‘Darling, we’re all on the same planet.
Have you been bitten by the travel bug?
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| {Photos courtesy of William Moore’s Great Global Adventure Instagram} |
If you’re interested in seeing the world, consider entering the next Great Global Adventure contest here. It opens in February 2016, so head over to the website for more info and instructions. Best of luck! And who knows? Maybe I’ll see you in New York City.
This post was sponsored by AXA, a leading global company in insurance and asset management, based in Paris, France. I partnered with the brand to write this article, but every word is mine.
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