As far back as I can remember, traveling has been a major influence in my life. It wasn't until I was in college that I began to realize just how much a part of me traveling was, and I began to take steps to keep travel as a priority. That's not always easy when you're a broke college or grad school student, but I did manage to study abroad both in London for a summer and in the Bahamas as a part of a semester-long course (thanks to working 3 jobs).
Since I've gotten married, my husband and I have continued to work towards seeing the world a little at a time. After I had my daughter, and I struggled with postpartum depression, blogging about travel reminded me how much I loved life and was the first step in my recovery.
No matter where I am in my journey, seeing the world has always excited me, pushed me towards greater things, and made me focus on the good things in this life. In short, traveling has made me into my best self, and it will continue to do so.
Here's exactly how traveling helps to fulfill me and make me a better person:
7) It teaches me to budget.
If nothing else, saving for a trip is an instruction in patience. Unless you're sitting on a trust fund (and, trust me, I'm not), you can't just jet off to wherever you'd like to go. Saving up for a trip is a slow, often frustrating process, but the payoff is well worth the struggle. That slow, steady race to the finish can easily be translated to other parts of your life, so if you learn to budget for trips, you can easily budget for school, a house, or whatever else you need/want at that moment.
6) It shows me the beauty in the world.
 |
| Schloss Hohenschwangau, Germany, 2015 |
5) It gets me out of my comfort zone.
 |
| Wheeee! Ziplining in St. Maarten, 2010 |
4) It makes me appreciate home.
As much as I love traveling, there is nothing that compares to the feeling of sinking into your own bed after being away for days, weeks, or months. There is a simple poetry to waking up to the sound of my daughter singing in the morning while my husband makes breakfast. Being out of my comfort zone while traveling just heightens my appreciation of those moments at home.
3) It helps me understand just how similar people are the world over.
I've experienced a lot while abroad, some good, some bad. I experienced the London bombings in 2005, I miscarried while at Walt Disney World, and I was mugged in Paris. Yet, in all of those situations, I had wonderful, caring people come to support me and my family. These experiences have taught me that there is evil in the world, but there is also an incredible amount of good as well.
2) It teaches me about new cultures, history, literature, and art.
 |
| Musée Rodin, Paris, 2005 |
1) It makes me into a better person.
Seeing the world in all of its glorious (and not-so-glorious) moments allows me to be myself--but more so. I hope that I will continue to challenge myself to learn more, do more, and be more through my traveling experiences.
Want even more travel goodness? Sign up for the newsletter and get the latest Cosmos Mariners updates, giveaways, and travel news right to your inbox!
