Why Travel?
By Greg Rodgers
Flying is not quite the party it was in Sinatra's days and lots of energy is expended to leave home, so why travel?
Flying is not quite the party it was in Sinatra's days and lots of energy is expended to leave home, so why travel?
Getting away from home and stepping outside of your usual routine are beneficial for both mind and body. The long-lasting personal benefits of visiting a foreign country far outweigh the costs and time to get there.
The great travel writer Pico Lyer said: "Travel is not really about leaving our homes, but leaving our habits."
Here are seven good reasons for why you should travel:
1. Travel Sharpens the Mind
You've done your old routine for so many years that you could run through it on autopilot. Being placed into a new environment engages a dormant part of your mind. Suddenly, you'll be required to navigate unfamiliar places, read foreign languages, try new things, make quick decisions, and choose your new eating and sleeping schedule.
Unlike at home, all the new sights, sounds, and places will require mental processing and filing. Your brain will welcome the workout
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2. A Shift in Perspective
"Nobody comes back from a journey the way they started it." -- Unknown
Being exposed to new cultures and people will greatly shift your paradigm and create a healthier perspective once you return back home. Seeing different social classes creates compassion and really makes you feel more blessed and content. Large portions of the world's population have to deal with daily threats such as hunger, disease, and land mines.
A hard day at work suddenly doesn't seem so bad when you see people in developing countries toiling in sun-scorched fields from morning to dark.
3. A Chance to Try New Things
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
While you may branch out at home with new restaurants from time to time, traveling kicks you out of the comfort zone and forces you, for better or worse, to try new things! Even if you don't enjoy your first attempt at scuba diving, at least you'll be able to relate in a new way the next time you see it in a movie.
Becoming a well-rounded individual enhances self confidence and will help you with new material for conversation in social settings.
Who knows, you may accidentally discover your new favorite food or find out that you want to pursue a new career in karaoke.
4. Meet New People
"A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles." -- Tim Cahill
You'll meet far more friendly people on the road than you will under ordinary circumstances at home. Other travelers are always looking to share experiences, give tips on places to go, and meet people from all over. Striking up a conversation with other travelers is extraordinarily easy.
A polite "so where are you from?" breaks the ice quite easily and may lead to lasting friendships
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5. See the Real Deal
"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries." -- Aldous Huxley
Until you visit a place and form your own opinions, your understanding only comes from what you were taught in school, read in books, or saw on media -- which may or may not be true.
Don't over research your upcoming destination in guidebooks. Do your best to avoid building a bias toward a place before you visit so that your opinion remains objective until you can make up your own mind
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6. Exercise and Sunshine
Sure, you could just go sweat in the gym under fluorescent lighting, but chances are that you'll be much more active while on the road -- regardless of whether your trip is an adventurous one or simply a relaxing beach trip.
You could be exploring new cities on foot, hiking, swimming, walking between places, and hopefully soaking up some needed sunshine while doing so. And it's guaranteed to smell better than the gym.
7. Come Home Renewed
After stepping away from home for a while, you'll return with renewed energy, a new set of mental filters, and ready to take on the next big project.
Getting away for some time, even though it requires effort, will greatly enhance your attitude and productivity once you return home.
Breaking up the monotony for a while is a great way to reduce stress and give your life an injection of excitement. Don't be surprised if you're already counting down days until the next trip!
Original Article: http://goasia.about.com/od/healthandsafety/tp/Why-Travel.ht
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