Mankind’s exploration and migration have been the backbone of the globalized world we live in today. After eating ice cream out of the box and doing my daily 10 minutes of meme scrolling, traveling is definitely up there on my list of favorite things. Each and every one of us is composed of tales and experiences that make us who we are. I can give up coffee and I can give up 5 out of the 10 mins of meme scrolling, but I cannot give up my wanderlust. Here’s why I love traveling:
Boosts creativity
I love to travel because as a writer and artist, my bread and butter depend on drawing inspiration from my surroundings and feeding my creative hub. The work I produce reflects in it the peaks and emotions that circle me. And in order to keep doing what I do, traveling is essential for engagement. Seeing new things, meeting new people, hearing different ideas, all recharge my creative channels and impel me to produce content. Nonetheless, I am not unique to this principle. Even if you work the most boring desk job out there, sitting and staring at a sunset from a height time to time helps to regain perspective.
Balances mental and physical health
Staying in one place too long or building a repetitive routine can trigger the strings of my mental wellbeing. Going out, dressing up, having something to look forward to helps me cope and balance. Travel also promotes physical activity, whether you’re running to catch a flight or huffing and puffing while climbing a mountain. And we all know that moving around and staying active means all kinds of good stuff for the body. Even if you plan to stay all day at the beach, walking on sand will force your muscles to work twice as hard.
Reality check like a slap in the face
Packing life in a carry-on suitcase motivates me to constantly evaluate the materialism in my life. Through this journey, the most important thing I’ve learned is that traveling is a privilege and should not be limited to buying round trip tickets to five-star resorts in third world countries. Nor should it mean backpacking continents when taking a year off to “find yourself.” Instead of throwing pity parties, I started to be proactive and participated in projects that promote international development. This has led me to not only find material fulfillment but also be thankful for all the privileges. I now feel super lucky to have lived in Canada with a passport that allows me to move freely.
Real world education
I took French for 6+ years in school and I can’t speak more than a hello today. Spending some time in Brazil had me flirting, ordering food, answering calls, and giving cab drivers in Portuguese. Or that time where I learned to stand up for myself and demanded to be in the same plane as my friends after they screwed up our seats. I call it “professional yelling.” You pretend you’re super important (which you are) and harbor attention with articulate but load language. Result: I still got laid over but I was proud of myself for stepping up.
A xenophile at heart, she lives to travel and loves to share her experience on Trip Jaunt (formerly Weekend Jaunt), an online travel community and hub she founded in 2010. She hopes that you will feel inspired to discover the world as well! Helen is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and the Academy of Canadian Film and Television.
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