Viewpoint: Traveling is a great teacher
The ancient Greek fabulist and storyteller Aesop once said, “Adventure is worthwhile”.
Indeed, it is. Travelling and exploring different places has great benefits, because you get to make new acquaintances, you see how different people do their work and you get to know unique stories of the people and places, you see a different culture, and learn about its history and the people residing there. Travelling gives immense knowledge as well as boosts your physical and mental health.
It has been researched that travelling is a source of happiness, it also boosts your creative skills. Therefore, at least once a year, ask your parents to spare some time out from their busy schedule and visit a new place and gain new experiences.
Here are some important benefits that you get from travelling.
Improves communication skills
Travelling to an area where your native language is not widely spoken, teaches you the skill of effective communication with other people. This is because you have to now use a medium, a language, which you don’t usually use, but which the locals understand and you may or may not speak. You will notice that your efforts will lead you to learning some new phrases and vocabulary in the new language and soon you will be more fluent in it than you were previously.
Gives peace of mind
There is a well-known saying, “We never know what we have until we lose it”. Travelling gives us a break from our hectic daily routine and empowers us to be thankful and content about the people and things we have in our life.
Enhances creative thoughts immensely
It is believed that creativity is triggered when a human mind gets out of its comfort zone and travelling forces you to go out and experience different situations. This boosts creative abilities and out-of-the-box thinking.
Makes you patient
While travelling, it is likely that you face situations which you don’t like but, because you have no option, you may accept what comes your way.
For instance, it can be a food that you don’t like or a place you don’t want to spend time in, but because your parents have decided on it or it is the only option available, you have to accept it. So, you learn to cope with uncertain, strange situations with patience and calmness.
Makes you more confident
One of the most positive outcomes of travelling is that it makes a traveller more confident. Yes, travelling allows you to often act independently, interact with new people and cope with several challenges at a new place, so you gain confidence as a result.
Gives you real-life wisdom
Though formal education is important, travelling is also a form of education about real life situations that you cannot get in any school or university. It gives you the wisdom which is otherwise impossible to attain from books only. And this wisdom or knowledge is also long-lasting since it is obtained as a result of experiences.
Creates memories for a lifetime
Indeed, travelling leaves you with memories that are impossible to forget. You are always reminded of the things you saw, the places you visited and the speciality of that particular place remains your unforgettable memory.
And now that mobile phones with cameras have made it easy to capture each moment, you can generate photo albums that will remain a source of joy for the rest of your life.
Makes you know your true personality
Being in strange situations, that only travelling can make a person experience, enables people to understand how they react to such situations. This helps the person become more prepared for similar situations in the future.
However, I would like to point out one thing, that travelling without the necessary planning can easily ruin the experience. So, it is better to always make a checklist of all the important items you need to take with you before you leave. You also must do some homework about the place you plan to visit, where to stay there and what to do, so that you don’t waste a lot of time, energy and money after arriving there because you know nothing about the place.
On that note, don’t lose the opportunity to be yourself and have life-changing experiences. Venture out and enjoy the experience!
Published in Dawn, Young World, December 11th, 2021