I will explain to you why travel changed me and how to change your life by traveling and why it can also change yours!
Why did the idea of traveling make me change my life?
I traveled abroad for the first time a little over ten years ago and since that trip, I have spent a little over 2 years living abroad!
How to change your life: The vision of a traveler:
When you have lived most or all of your life in the same place, changing cities feels good but changing countries is another thing that will change your outlook on life.
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You settle for simple things
If you visit developing countries, one of the things that will strike you is the smiles of the people even though they do not have as many possessions as we do. People are simple and there is a sense of sufficiency; they don’t want more and they are happy that way. That is what you feel when you visit a local town. I remember my stay on Gili Trawagan in Indonesia, where I saw people living simply (no motorized vehicles, local shops and restaurants, no superfluous things). A place I highly recommend.
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You improve personally and adapt more easily
When you travel, you lose your habits and automatisms; you are led to make quick decisions and take initiatives. Likewise, when you go from city to city or country to country, each country is different, there are different ways of communicating, different mindsets. You have to adapt quickly and develop skills that you don’t have when living your routine in your home country. You don’t react the same way in Thailand or Malaysia for example; in some beaches or places in Malaysia, it is not appropriate to wear overly revealing swimsuits. Moreover, Asians don’t like the sun very much.
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You flourish differently and meet people who change lives
With each trip, we are in search of discoveries, new things, beautiful places, unusual activities, and unlikely encounters. Each of these things makes us live and experience travel in our own way. These experiences make us grow. I remember meeting a couple in Tasmania who showed me what the notion of sharing and kindness towards others was. They were always helping others and asking for nothing. It is said that when you help someone, one day God will repay you.
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You have this notion of freedom
For me, this is one of the most important notions, knowing what you are doing without ever planning, living in the present moment and enjoying the good times. I remember when I was in the west of Australia with Norwegian friends where we camped and fished, we had this feeling of freedom that nothing could happen to us and that we had the choice to do what we wanted! Freedom is priceless, many people tell me, I have debts to pay, I have obligations. During your travels, you will forget all that!
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You don’t think too much anymore, enjoy and have fun!
Forget your previous life and follow your instinct; this last point ties in with the others in the sense that it relies on them. Forget the consequences, or what others will think. We are free, we flourish, we are happy and we deserve it!
Find my section: travel advice where you can get more information about traveling.
And you? What do you feel when you travel? Has travel changed your outlook on life?
