Why Travel Makes You an Awesome Person

In 2015, more than 73 million Americans traveled abroad, shattering last yearโs figures by a whopping a 7.7 percent. What this means is that more and more people are taking to traveling, especially millennials.
In fact, you could even say millennials are the poster generation for wanderlust: according to U.S. News & World Report, one-fifth of international travelers are millennials.
So, whatโs with the increase in travel? Why do so many people have the travel bug? We have our guesses. For one, traveling is easier nowadaysโwithin a couple clicks youโve purchased your airfare or even private jet which it nowadays much affordable than it used to be (for confirmation, check out Stratos Jet Charters!), and rented that hotel or the apartment or even igloo or treehouse! private jet charter prices
And two, people want to go outside of their backyard and explore other cultures. This is just one reason why travel makes you an awesome person. Read on for more!
Photo by Nathan McBride on Unsplash
1. You Grow More
You experience several different situations when you travel, some amazing, others not so much.
These types of situationsโwhether missing the flight or not being able to find the restaurantโforces you to problem-solve and rely on yourself. And, in doing so, you become more self-reliant and grow.
Yes, you can grow in the comforts of your own home, state, and country. But, unless you make a concerted effort, it may not be as quicklyโsimply because you already speak the language; you know where the grocery store is; you donโt need to make new friends because you already have several in close proximity to you.
2. You Become More Confident
Because youโre forced to rely on yourself more, you get a boost in confidence. Youโve been there, looking on the map, trying to find Gaudiโs Casa Batlรณ. Youโve eaten steak tartare in Parisโand, in fact, enjoyed it.
If youโre lost, unsure of where the train station is, youโre already thinking and looking up how to say โtrain stationโ in Chinese. Instead of freezing (which youโve done before), youโre actively taking steps and getting yourself around town. Thereโs something to be said for that.
3. You Realize What Youโve Taken for Granted
Back home, you took long, hot showers or didnโt have to think about the words before you talked. Now, depending on where you travel, you have to spend 5 minutes looking on Google Translate how to say a certain phrase. And, letโs face it, the showers are short and, most of the time, not hot.
From traveling, you realize several amenities you took for granted, not to mention the paved, wide roads and 24-hour stores. Now, you want to make an effort to be grateful for what you have in your home country. But there are customs, culture, etc. that you want to take back with youโฆ
4. You Realize What You Havenโt Taken for Granted
Also, from traveling, you realize several things that arenโt in your home country you want to bring back and make a part of your day-to-day life.
Perhaps the time you spent reading in cafes in Paris makes you want to carve out an hour a day for reading? Or, maybe you had delicious sushi in Japan that you have to (at least) try to recreate?
5. Youโre Not That Materialistic
Because you can only fit a number of items in your luggage bag and backpack, youโve had to make conscious choices of what to bring and what to leave out. In doing so, you force yourself not to rely on material possessions, sticking to minimalism.
And, surprisingly (but not really), you realize yes, you can survive having fewer possessions on you or in your room. In fact, your mind is a lot clearer and youโre more focused on the experience than what you should buy or not buy.
Most likely, when you come home, youโll want to clean out your room, apartment, condo, or house ridding it of any unnecessary, well, junk. ย
Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash
Final Thoughts: Traveling Opens Your Eyes to a World You Never Knew Existed
Didnโt you know Paris has the best desserts? Didnโt you know how exhilarated youโd feel walking The Great Wall of China?
Now that youโve taken these steps and become an international traveler, youโre not scared of the unknown. In fact, youโre ready to plan your next trip. How has traveling changed you? Leave a comment.
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Newly middle-aged wife of 1, Mom of 3, Grandma of 2. A professional blogger who has lived in 3 places since losing her home to a house fire in October 2018 with her husband. Becky appreciates being self-employed which has allowed her to work from 'anywhere'. Life is better when you can laugh. As you can tell by her Facebook page where she keeps the humor memes going daily. Becky looks forward to the upcoming new year. It will be fun to see what 2020 holds.