Traveling the world can be one of the most exciting, eye-opening experiences in your life. But it’s also more than that; it’s a chance to learn more about yourself and the world around you in ways you never thought possible. Here are 8 things traveling teaches you about life.
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1) Acceptance
When you travel, you come face to face with the reality that it’s impossible to see and do everything. And although it can be hard to accept, it’s a lesson worth learning. No matter how much time or money you have at your disposal, there will always be something out of reach—that is the reality of traveling in a finite world.
2) Adaptability
When you’re in a new place, you have to go with the flow. Whether it means trying new foods or making do without the toiletries you’re used to, travel teaches us that things don’t always work out the way we planned—but that there are still ways around it.
In life, we don’t always have control over our circumstances but can still enjoy ourselves; when something doesn’t go as planned, we can adapt and find a silver lining.
3) Patience
Patience can be hard to come by when we’re constantly on the go. On the road, though, you have time to exercise patience. Whether you’re waiting for a delayed flight or an unexpected traffic jam, take some time to appreciate where you are and what you’re doing—you may even find that the wait was worth it. Seen as a version to the unedited 8 Things Traveling Teaches You
4) Curiosity
We’re all curious, but when you travel, your sense of curiosity is enhanced. The world becomes a big mystery box, and you find yourself asking questions and seeking out answers everywhere you go.
When I began traveling more than ten years ago, I learned that if I was lucky enough to be invited into someone’s home (in the US or abroad), it would only be a matter of time before they asked me so, what do you want to know? And the same goes for local people in the places where we were traveling—they were always eager to share information about their culture and traditions with us.
5) Letting go of plans
We never really know what’s going to happen when we travel, and that’s the beauty of it. Whether it’s the flu that keeps you in bed for a few days or an accident on your way to the train station, some of the best things about traveling are (literally) out of our hands.
After all, when we don’t have plans and go with the flow, amazing things tend to happen: We meet new people.
6) Listening instead of speaking
Communicating with people of different cultures opens your mind to new perspectives and forces you to listen instead of speak. Even in Western cultures where English is the first language, many people are likely to have a harder time listening than they do speaking because they’re often more anxious about what they say than the other person.
This is less likely to be the case when talking with someone who speaks a different native language, which may force you out of your comfort zone.
7) Being present with the moment
Vacations are a time for your body to reset and relax, but they’re also a time for you to focus on what’s important in life.
One of the most important lessons traveling teaches is the importance of being present in the moment—whether that’s stopping to smell the roses or embracing a new culture.
If you can practice being present with each moment, you can live more fully and gain perspective about what really matters.
8) Risk taking
Risk taking is a natural byproduct of travel. If you’re afraid to try something new, you’ll never know what you’re missing—and that could be the best lesson of all.
Taking risks can be scary, but the reward is worth it: when traveling or even just in life, the real risk isn’t taking any risks at all.