Top reasons to travel ~ Tommy Middaugh

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” ~ Terry Pratchett

 

There are many reasons to travel, whether it’s near home or to the other side of the world. I believe these are the top reasons why you should travel:

 

1) You discover something new

It’s a big world out there, just waiting for you to explore. Traveling keeps your sense of adventure and your curiosity alive. It allows you to experience and enjoy different landscapes, climates, foods, and landmarks. It opens your eyes to new cultures, customs, and languages. It gives you the opportunity to meet new people and maybe make new friends. Travel is full of surprises - you never know what may happen while you’re on the road. It gives you a break from your daily routine and can enrich your life in many ways.

 

2) You get recharged

Every day, time seems to fly by and the days look like a blur. Taking time off and traveling away from home provides you with some downtime without feeling guilty about work or other commitments. You leave your worries and stress behind while enjoying some sightseeing, delicious meals, a drink on the beach, or some local entertainment. There’s no better way to de-stress and give your brainpower a much-needed boost.

3) You get a fresh perspective on yourself, the world, and life

I think this is one of my favorite perks of traveling. Whenever I feel in a rut or I am longing for a change of pace, I hit the road to discover what the world has to offer. As James Russell Lowell said, “A wise man travels to discover himself.”  Meeting people from other states, countries or cultures helps you better understand how the world works and shows you how much there is to life once you take a good look around.

 

4) You get to challenge yourself

Traveling takes you out of your comfort zone and provides challenges that help you expand your horizons, such as trying new foods, learning a new language or navigating through an unknown city. These challenging experiences build your confidence and help you grow as a person. Take back these new skills and apply them to your daily life, once the next hurdle comes along.

 

5) You enjoy time off with people you love

Traveling with your significant other, your family or your friends gives you a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and forge new bonds. You get to do everything I mentioned above together: discover new places, try new things, gain a fresh perspective facing challenges and get recharged. Traveling is a unique way to create lifelong memories with the people you care about the most.