Elizabeth Waddington
If you feel the urge to travel the world, give in to that siren song. There are many of us that feel the call of the road ahead and could not imagine a life without seeing the world. Travel is something special, a pursuit that can truly make you better as a person. Do not feel bad about leaving your loved ones behind – they should understand how great travel will be for you. In fact, travel can even make things better for them when you get home. Here are five ways that travel will impact you and your loved ones positively when you return from your adventures.
And yes, you can use these reasons to convince your loved ones to let you go.
Also read: 10 Brilliant Responses When People Ask Why You Travel So Much
Travel makes you more empathetic
Travel gives you the opportunity to meet many, many different people, to experience different cultures and get to know locals with a wide variety of different backgrounds, situations and beliefs. In meeting a range of people and getting to understand the issues they face, their dreams, their joys, their fears, you can hone your empathy skills. You will become better and understanding the emotions of others and putting yourself in other people’s shoes.
Travel expands the mind
While staying in one place, you may well feel a tendency towards becoming rather stuck in your ways. Travel expands the mind, allowing you to get out of that rut. Your loved ones will see an improvement in your ability to start new patterns of behaviour. In other words, your loved ones will surely appreciate the fact that you are more willing to change and adapt to any changes that come your way.
Travel broadens your horizons
Travel not only improves your ability to cope with change in routine and make you more flexible, it also makes it easier for you to see a range of different points of view. Travel broadens your horizons and forces you to look at the world in a different way. You will be better able to see more sides of an argument, which your loved ones will surely come to benefit from in due course.
Travel improves your communication skills
When you are travelling alone, you invariably meet a wide range of different people, not all of whom speak the same language as you. You will learn how to talk to people like you and people with whom you have little or nothing in common. You will learn how to communicate in other ways to work around language barriers. Your whole family will benefit from your new and improved communication skills, which can strengthen the bonds between you.
Travel gives you many memories to share
Last but not least, travel will give you plenty of stories to tell and memories to share with your loved ones on your return. The stories and anecdotes you tell will educate, inform and entertain your loved ones – another way in which bonds can be strengthened when you do get home.
Also read: Why It Is Important to Have a Circle of (Travel) Friends
So, do not feel guilty. Get out there and travel to make yourself a better person for you and your loved ones.
