You walk down the tunnel, out onto the runway, and confront the overwhelming roaring of the motors. Your mind is racing as you look up at the plane, thinking of all the wonders that await you. Travel, whether it’s a long weekend or a year spent traveling across the world, has the power to broaden your sights and change your life. Along with financial expenditures, everyone must bear emotional consequences as well. Some pay more than others but everyone pays something. You might have listened to someone saying “traveling has changed my life” and wondered how exactly. This life-changing experience comes in 3 stages; before, during, and after.
Table of Contents
Before
There are probably a hundred things on your mind before you start your journey. Is my passport still with me? Is everything packed? Is my paperwork completed? Is there anything I’m overlooking? And so forth. You never really consider how traveling would change my life. It all starts when you’re getting ready to say your goodbyes to your friends and family and your emotions start to flare. These emotions and self-doubts are totally normal and accompany any important lifestyle alteration. The practical part of your brain normally wins out, and it won’t hit home until you arrive at the airport, say your final goodbyes, and pass through the security checkpoint.
During
I was a jumble of emotions, adrenaline rush, and excitement before departing on my first solo journey. When I boarded my flight, I had no idea what to anticipate. It seemed like I was diving into the void and really enjoying it, which is surprising given how introverted I was. After a few weeks, I’m sitting at a German train station, feeling lonely and isolated like I’ve never felt before. The cultural shock and language barrier reached their extent and it was like I went from being this big fish in my pond to being a small scared Nemo. If I was asked at that point how traveling changed my life, my answer would have been completely different.
After
Going on an adventure means not just meeting new people and doing new activities, but the most important component of travel is the significant change it brings about in your life.
Traveling Improves Your Confidence
You can probably tell how I used to be pre-travel based on the way I’ve represented myself. I was never one of those I-can-start-a-conversation-with-anyone types of self-assured folks. I used to wander about with a hunchback in one hand and my eye fixed on my feet, attempting to blend in as much as possible. People had to ask me to repeat myself since I spoke so quietly. I attempted to avoid social settings so that I wouldn’t have to make eye contact. There were several problems along the way, such as being lost a couple of times, being ripped off, having food sickness, missing buses and Ubers, and so on. These obstacles teach you how to overcome social anxiety and grow a thicker skin. Now, you can converse with anyone at any moment and begin narrating your trip adventures to random strangers without fear of being judged. You no longer strive to hide your true self behind a mask so that no one knows who you really are. Traveling and meeting dozens of new individuals every day transforms you into the self-assured individual you’d always aspired to be.
You Become an All-Out Foodie
You’ve probably heard someone brag about wonderful meals and how they live for them. I was never one of those folks; instead, I was a food-resistant individual. If it had been the case, I would have survived the whole of the day on one apple. I used to be confused as to what was wrong with me. In a Chinese restaurant, I was once told to eat noodles with chopsticks, and I ended up with one in each hand. When you step on the plane, you wouldn’t have tried Chinese, Mexican, Indian, Thai, rice, pasta, … It would become easier to list down the dishes you haven’t tried than the ones you have tried. Have you ever gotten a chance to eat pasta in Italy? I had to wiggle back home in my tight jeans, which were now exceptionally skinny! You will discover that eating snails will not harm you they are rather tasty. There will come a point when you would travel specially to try new food.
You feel Independent
Leaving home for the first time is a liberating experience. It’s fantastic to be able to land in Europe and get on the next train to anyplace. It’s all about making choices when it comes to traveling. You have entire control over your journey, from planning it to making a last-minute adjustment in a foreign city. I eventually came to appreciate my newfound freedom. I made my own decisions, and they were based on my desires. I can be selfish. I could sleep all day if I wanted to and not have to think about anyone else. I could also spend all day hiking if I wanted to.
You Develop a New Perspective
When you travel abroad, you discover that none of these matters and your perspectives on things change. You discover how other people perceive your nation as a whole, which forces you to reconsider your positions. Meeting someone from a different nation has an impact on you. The discussions you have and the meals you share provide you with a totally fresh perspective on the world. You discover that what you see on the news isn’t always accurate and that friendships may emerge in unexpected places. If we all got out of our comfort zones and learned about different cultures, the world would be a better place.
Travel’s emotional influence can manifest itself in a variety of ways. You could develop a thirst to go exploring again. This urge, often known as wanderlust, can last anywhere from a few days to a lifetime. You could decide to give up your hiking boots for good and live your life in flip-flops. Seize the opportunity. Life moves at a lightning speed, so enjoy the benefits of every chance. If you’re unsure, say yes.
