How Travel Heals The Soul
If you have been a long-time traveler or even if you have only embarked on a few short journeys, hopefully, you’ve found it rewarding enough to decide to repeat the adventure.
I truly enjoy travel. At least right after the whole getting there bit which admittedly can be stressful. But once you’ve dropped your bags and taken in the scenery, you can finally start to live the moment when travel becomes joyful and rewarding.
Let’s chat about some of the reasons why travel could be your number one drug of choice:
Disconnection to reconnect
Travel can be a healing experience in many ways. When we travel, we often step out of our daily routines and immerse ourselves not only in new environments but often times into new customs or habits. This change of scenery can provide a break from stressors and challenges in our daily lives, allowing us to disconnect and recharge.
A Little Perspective
Travel also provides an opportunity for self-reflection and introspection. Being in new surroundings can help us gain perspective on our lives, our values, and our goals. This can be particularly helpful when dealing with difficult emotions or life transitions, as travel can provide a much-needed break from the stress and uncertainty of these situations.
When you see how big the world is, you see how small certain problems are. Not to dismiss all of them because let’s face it some stressors are as big as they feel, but travel can give you a moment to breathe and work up the strength to handle what you’re facing.
The journey you go on can teach you how to seize the day, this blog post can show you how it’s done and how to make your travels go smoothly so that you can focus on yourself and not on any stressors so prepare yourself with tips on becoming a world traveler.
Mood Boost
Who doesn’t want a happiness booster? Travel can provide a sense of adventure and excitement, which can help boost mood and energy levels. Trying new activities, exploring new places, and meeting new people can all provide a sense of joy and fulfillment that can help improve overall well-being.
Travel can also provide opportunities to disconnect from our daily routines, which can help reduce stress and promote relaxation. This can help you recharge and return home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Education & Creativity
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine
Travel is also an opportunity to learn about history, food, art, architecture, and much more. It provides a unique educational experience that is not found in a classroom. Travel stimulates the imagination, providing new experiences and fresh perspectives that can inspire creative thinking and problem-solving.
Building Human Connections
Let’s face it, screen time has taken away from our sense of connection in many ways. Travel can give back a sense of (re)connection to the world and people around us. Experiencing different cultures and ways of life can help us understand and appreciate the diversity of humanity, and can provide a sense of belonging and interconnectedness. This can be particularly powerful for those of us who may be struggling with feelings of isolation or disconnection.
This exposure to different ways of life can help us gain a deeper understanding of the world and ourselves, which can inspire personal growth and development.
While you’re visiting a new country it can be natural to feel a little alienated if you walk out of the airport and can’t understand anything or recognize any faces. But there are ways of getting around this and tips you can use to help break the language divide.
To further break the ice on your trip, try to think of activities you’d like to experience which will expose you to new people. Many countries will even have these options in English for visitors to their country.
You can sign up for a class to learn something new from the culture you’re visiting. In Seville where flamenco is queen, you can sign up for Flamenco lessons to get a true feel for the culture surrounding you. Or in Paris, you can join a cooking class and learn the secrets behind French cuisine or French pastry. Get the kids involved as well with French cooking and baking classes (taught in English) for families and make traveling together memorable.
Eating your way around the world
When we’re talking about the benefits of travel let’s not forget the food, in fact, I say, let’s eat the world!
Trying new foods, or even discovering how the foods you know are transformed in another destination can stimulate our brains and senses, as we discover new flavors, textures, and aromas. This can provide a sense of novelty and excitement, which can be mentally stimulating.
It can also be a fun and social activity, as we share new culinary experiences and connect with friends and family. This can strengthen relationships and create shared memories with old friends and promotes new connections with the people you meet abroad.
Now that you are armed with great reasons for traveling it’s time to plan your next adventure.
What are some of the reasons you travel? Let me know in the comments.
