A Few Things Travel Teaches Us About Life

Everyone learns in a variety of different ways but, for me at least, the act of traveling the world has been the best education. I’ve learned not only about new places and people, but more about myself as well. In this post I want to share some important lessons travel has taught me, and I’m willing to bet I’m not alone in these revelations.

Most people are nice

This is a great travel and life lesson and is constantly reaffirmed whenever I leave the house. No matter what we think about other countries and cultures, people around the world are very similar to us. They have families, jobs, hopes and dreams. They’re also human and as such are naturally inclined to help out their fellow man whenever they can. Not everyone is like this of course, but most are and it’s learning about these wonderful people more than anything else I think that keeps me incredibly interested in seeing more of the world.

Attitude is everything

I am definitely NOT a new age, hippy dippy type of person but this year I began to appreciate the fact that one’s attitude and outlook on life is an essential component to success. Look around at your friends. Do the people who complain and whine always seem to have bad things happen to them? What about those happy more optimistic people, everything seems to go their way, doesn’t it? This isn’t a coincidence and indeed one’s attitude becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when it comes to success. If you never expect anything good to happen, it never will.

The world is huge

Every time I think I’ve been to a lot of places, I look at a map and am once again astounded at the size of the planet. There is so much to do and see on this beautiful planet that it is sometimes daunting to think about. Just consider all of the people and their unique and interesting stories. It would take many lifetimes to see it all, but that won’t stop me from trying.

Travel has made me happier and healthier

Yes, it’s true, traveling helps us be healthier people. Studies have shown a whole host of benefits including a lower risk of heart disease and coronary death in people who take annual vacations. No surprise there really, taking a vacation helps us relax and calm down in what is an increasingly stressful world. The act of travel itself is also healthy, I know I get much more exercise when I’m on the road than when I’m at home. That same study also showed a lower percentage of depression amongst people who travel, so getting out there and seeing the world helps us be happier people too. Happier people are of course healthier people, so the act of travel helps us physically and mentally. Most Americans do not use all of their annual vacation days, a shocking statistic given how few we get in the first place. Trips don’t have to be long or expensive for you to realize health benefits, the simple act of taking time off and leaving the house, even on a short trip, yields tremendous benefits.

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