What is it about travel that lures the millennials and Gen Z’s? “Wanderlust” has replaced other lifestyle and fashion trends and has social media running into a dizzy.
Not too long ago, people considered travel a once-or-twice-in-a-year affair. Today, it has become a life choice or a compulsive habit for many. Is it an escape route or a coping mechanism to deal with the stresses of an imbalanced work-life situation? Or is it just a social media race that has everyone spending their savings on exotic locations for that perfect Instagram post?
Invigorating discussions on the subject got me thinking of why I travel (so much), and why you too may want to splurge on it, but mindfully.
Here are the top 5 benefits of travel I can think of.
1. Breaks down barriers:
Cultural, linguistic, beliefs, you name it. And not necessarily between you and the outer world. More often than not, between you and you. Traveling dispels the views and realities that you conjured up all your life. It breaks down barriers the moment you find yourself in a different time zone, immerse into someone else’s world and their reality. Unlearning and relearning can be a beautiful process if you’re mindfully present in the moment.
2. Opens up perspectives:
A friendly lady I once met on an Alaskan cruise asked me three minutes into our conversation if I lived the BIG Dubai life and owned a building because “everyone does in Dubai”.
Well, that’s one perspective.
The other one was mine, in my teenage years in Oman where all I wanted to do was live the American Dream one day. Through time, travel, and new perspectives of what a “good life” really is, all I now long is to retire on farmland in the Andalusian hills of Spain where I can be a digital nomad and travel the world from. The richer the experiences, the more varied are life’s perspectives.
3. Connecting with nature:
It is not to say that there may not be enough nature to marvel at where you live. Here in the UAE, the sands are beyond magical and the mountains are magnificent.
But as you travel and landscapes change, you truly experience and appreciate mother nature’s power and glory.
It was that beautiful moment under my first mystical experience of the Aurora Borealis back in 2015 when the realization struck. That nature is all-encompassing and all-powerful. And beautifully enough, we are one with it. We are all connected just as we are all alone, experiencing the fierce blue, green, and violet emotions swirling inside of us every moment, helping us learn and grow, together.
4. Collecting memories:
It’s different from collecting bags and shoes, which have their charm but can and will fade over time. Travelling to new places means creating little happy moments alone or with family, friends, or strangers on the road in settings outside of the ordinary. Some of my best memories have been made on a road trip in Ireland, glacier walking in Alaska, horseback riding in Kyrgyzstan, island hopping in Greece, sailing the waters in Croatia, river rafting in Bali, trekking the Polish Tatras, or paragliding in Nepal.
Experiences and memories last a lifetime like most things don’t.
5. For the love of Airplanes:
This is a personal favourite and many of you can relate. I simply love airplanes. Not in a technical, geeky sort of way but as a symbol of how we have come such a long way in defying time and distance. There is also that excitement of a new adventure, a new people and culture, and an altogether new experience waiting for you on the other side of the 5 or 10 hours flight. Thrills me every single time!
How about you?
Closing Thoughts
I’d also love to hear what drives you to travel as little or as often as you do. What is it that makes you want to explore the world or what is stopping you? Do write in.
Having travelled to over 80 countries with a weak (Indian) passport, I’d be happy to share useful travel tips and information that could come in handy, especially for female travelers who want to leave their comfort zones behind, but are unsure if their travel documents or situations will allow it. In the meanwhile, I will continue to share as many and as vivid an account of my travel experiences as I can in this space. I hope you enjoy reading them.
