If you’ve never traveled much, it can be awe-inspiring to talk with someone that does. They have a wisdom and understanding of the world that you can’t gain from camping at the local lake or staying at a condo in Florida.
Travelling gives you a more complete picture of the world. If personal growth is important to you, international travel can accelerate your development.
Change your perspective with these lessons:
Materialism is Overrated
When you travel abroad, it’s not easy to bring your guitar collection, BMW, and fine silverware with you. You quickly find that you can do just fine without all of the items you seem to love so much back home.
You also see other people living perfectly happy lives with very little in the way of possessions.
Different Cultures Have Different Priorities
While our society values fame, fortune, possessions, and other forms of material success, many other societies have little concern for this sort of thing.
You’ll notice that other countries can value things like friendship, family, religion, adventure, or comfort.
Not to say that one is inherently better than the other, but differences do exist. You might find you like the idea of an afternoon siesta.
Value the basics
We take many things for granted. There are people that walk 20-plus miles each day just for water. You can see people living with dirt floors or playing soccer with a ball made of rags. It’s easy to forget how much of the world lives.
Friends can be found anywhere
You don’t have to limit your friends to those people you see five times a week. It’s possible to create and maintain friendships across the globe. It’s easy to stay in touch these days with all the technology available.
People in many parts of the world are far less guarded than they are at home. Of course, some are more guarded.
You learn to be flexible
Many things are less reliable than in the western world. From bus schedules to electricity, it’s not uncommon to have your plans disrupted on a daily basis. You will learn to be more flexible and creative. You can even bring that new skill home with you.
You waste a lot of time
When you’re traveling, you won’t want to spend your time staring at your smartphone or watching TV. You’ll want to be out living and experiencing the local scene. You’ll realize how much time you waste back home doing things that provide little value to you.
Being able to travel is a privilege
Travelling can be a spectacular thing. You’ll also find people on your journey that travel a lot more than you do. Few places work even close to the hours and weeks we do. There are also people that have never traveled outside their town.
People are all the same
While cultures can differ considerably, many things are the same. People love their children regardless of what country they’re in. Everyone is striving to be happy and to find meaning in their life. The important things are the same wherever you go.
Final Thought
Your perspective of the world will change if you get out of the country and visit someplace new. Different people and societies can teach you a lot about the world and yourself.
It can be expensive to travel internationally, but it’s worth the expense. Begin saving today for a trip that can be fun and might change your life.