Why Travel?
August is a strong travel month for a lot of people. It is a shove to get ready for it; to get the house ready for it; and now also to get ready with our baby girl. Just thinking about the preparation, I wonder why we do it. To top it off, it means significant income loss for us since both, my husband and I, are running our own businesses. Included in those thoughts is a conversation that I had with my brother several years ago.
He had had to travel around the world for work (a few times) and was appalled at the lack of cleanliness in most places he visited. This complaint may have been more the symptom of something else going on with him, as he quickly raised the question: “Why travel?” This went hand in hand with what we heard our father say over and over again when he stretched out on the couch in front of the TV on the weekends after a long week of hard work: “At home it is best! Nowhere else will do.” Living in San Diego, we all know how bad and inconvenient the weather can be in most places we travel to, compared to here.
Why travel then? It is certainly not number one for comfort or even safety. Our schedules get messed up or disappear completely. Even our digestion might get all irregular and suffer. If you are a koala bear and sleep 22 hours on average, it would seem that comfort and safety are top priorities. But where does it say that for us humans, a comfortable life is a fully lived and vibrant one?
While safety is always a top priority for me when traveling, comfort not so much. It is actually great to realize that our bodies can deal with all kinds of situations other than what we come across in our daily lives at home. There are so many benefits to traveling that outweigh a little disruption of our routines. It is spiritually and mentally stimulating. Seeing different places and meeting people in their unique cultures provides countless a-ha moments. It accentuates the fact that our own culture and lifestyle isn’t the only way to live.
When we travel we become more tolerant of people who are different and we appreciate more fully that we are all human beings. Often while traveling we get to experience the kindness of strangers and are reminded to offer kindness to others once we return home. You also learn more about yourself when faced with new situations. And not to mention being able to sample food that is new to you, see unique buildings and architecture, and to appreciate the way others live. It is fascinating.
Children also enjoy traveling. Parents are able to spend quality time with them, and they get to learn about themselves in new environments and can experience playfulness in the world around them. This provides the opportunity to teach them about core values, all while having fun.
On Livelovelearn.com they answer the question, “Why travel?” with “….Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” Broadening the horizon is a funny thing. We don´t usually notice the limitations of our thinking until it gets expanded. Once our mind is stretched, it won´t ever fit in the same box again. That is an amazing thing about traveling and I dare conclude that traveling is life changing for the better.
To all of you, enjoy your travels and stay safe!
Author Sabine Starr is a psychologist licensed in Vienna, Austria, currently living and working in Mission Hills. She has written numerous articles for professional psychology journals. For further information, visit www.starrcoaching.com and follow her blog at www.HealthwithTaste.blogspot.com; and a new social media offering
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