Traveling is more than paying lots of money to get on a plane and go somewhere. It's more than sightseeing a city's tourist hot spots and more than blowing up social media with "cool" posts. Traveling is about changing one's perspective on life. No two places in the world are exactly alike or do life in the same way, and the more places you can see, the more ways you can see how others do life. The beautiful thing about traveling is that it doesn't have to be across the world or across the country, and it can be as expensive as you make it. Even taking a trip to your next closest city will expose you to new ideas, new people and new walks of life. Travel, and here are some reasons why:
1) Learn why others think the way they do
One beautiful thing about the world is that no two people think exactly alike. If there's one thing traveling can teach you, it's that people have legitimate reasons behind their thoughts, ideas and beliefs, and some of those thoughts, ideas and beliefs are the exact opposite of yours. Some of our biggest national and global problems stem from political differences, but did it ever interest you to know the why behind those differences? Traveling and experiencing new cultures begins to reveal, at least parts of, the reasons why others may think differently about a situation than you do.
2) Growing up
There's something about traveling that helps a person grow up. It's like an adventure or a quest, not always to find oneself, but even more so to find out about others. A part of growing up is discovering the world and how it works. It's about discovering the answers to all of those "why" questions you've always asked, and it's about seeing the pictures from all of your school textbooks come to life. Traveling helps turn the childhood moments of learning into the adulthood moments of experiencing.
3) Meeting people
When traveling, especially traveling alone, you're required to meet people. Meeting people will be a part of asking directions, interacting with locals at the downtown pub and exploring a new place. There's something special about meeting people that are in different places, experiencing different walks of life that you may have never thought about. Being able to swap stories across states, countries and cultures is a special art form that's centuries old and that will continue to be centuries new until the world can be traveled no more.
4) Understand what its like to be on your own
Even if you're traveling in a group, there will be some sense of being on one's own while traveling. Maybe it's just the idea of being away from home or being away from family and friends, but there's always this sense of independence while exploring. Home is miles and miles away and cell phone reception may or may not be available, so it comes down to figuring out a situation and enjoying the independence that comes with a side of adventure. There's an African proverb that says, "If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together," but there's anything wrong with experiencing pieces of life on one's own and learning from that.
5) Make memories
This one is as cliche as it comes, but memories are some of the most valuable pieces to a person's life. They're hope to cling to and old stories to laugh at. Look at it this way, which are you more likely to remember and reminisce on in the long run? A new shirt or a concert featuring your favorite band? Traveling makes memories. Memories are made through experiences and experiences come through seeing new things.
-Cliff
Cliff's Note: Traveling isn't about the money you spend or how far you go. It's about the way it changes us and challenges us.