Beyond Borders: Discovering the Magic of International Travel

International travel either solo or with a companion can be one of the most eye opening, transformative experiences you can have in your life. According to the New York Times, people who travel internationally show higher levels of happiness and satisfaction within their lives. You will become more open-minded because your perspective on different cultures will force you to analyze your own life, something we all lose the ability to do as we stay in our little routines. Traveling internationally is one of the best things you can do for yourself, give me 10 minutes of your time to prove it.

It might seem daunting at first and it is a huge step especially if it’s not something you’ve ever done before. Take it step by step and embrace the journey, you’re about to have the experience of a lifetime. You’ll need a passport as well as to get vaccinated against different diseases depending on where you’re going (with proof). Both these things can, and should, be handled way ahead of time so they won’t interfere with your inevitable panic the weeks leading up to your incredible trip. Everything else you need really depends on the destination but my biggest tip is to not overwhelm yourself with planning for your trip. Do the things that you absolutely need to have done, plan a couple things if you’d like and head out! You don’t even have to worry about exchanging money anymore as you can get the local currency out of an ATM when you arrive. Just make sure that your bank knows you will be traveling abroad so you don’t run into any issues there.

Below is a list of just a few of the benefits of traveling internationally.

Getting out of your comfort zone

Many people travel just to go somewhere and don’t realize the incredible benefits travel has on personal growth. Not only is travel a great way to learn about new cultures, make friends and see beautiful sights but you’ll also have the chance to challenge yourself in ways that you have never encountered before. You have the opportunity to befriend people that are local to the area, to learn about them and their culture (the best part, in my opinion). You will disrupt your daily routine with things that are totally foreign to you and while that probably sounds anxiety inducing it will challenge you more than you ever thought you could be challenged and you’ll come out stronger than ever. If you feel anxiety when landing in a new country for the first time, try not to panic, that is totally normal. Not a lot of people can just up and head to a new country comfortably. It may take you a couple days to acclimate but don’t give up on it, you will get there and you will do things you never thought you would be capable of.

Expanding your perspective

When you travel, your perspective on the world and people around you is bound to change. This can result in positive or negative changes but either way it will be tremendous growth for yourself. The more open minded you are when traveling, the better off you’ll be, people from all over have different experiences they bring with them that help shape their perspectives. While this may not always mean someone has a crazy story to tell, it’s important to keep an ear out as there could easily be something valuable being shared by just listening intently without responding much at all. It is beautiful to see how people from all different corners of the world live their lives; what they value, what their days look like. Keep your mind as open as possible when traveling.

Gaining new experiences and learning more about yourself

You might find that travel helps you realize things about your life and make changes. Seeing the way people live in different parts of the world and experiencing how happy they are really helps you to reflect on your life and what makes you happy. When I went to the Maldives and met the incredible people on the island I stayed on I realized how little you need to live. People live and work on these stunning islands and have nothing more than a few different outfits, their phone, and the nature around them. They are some of the happiest people I have ever met. It certainly helps to be working in one of the most stunning locations in the world but aside from that they accept their circumstances and realize that being happy and grateful is really the only thing that matters in life.

It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling for a month, on an extended vacation or anything in-between, travel is one of the best ways to get out there and see what else this world has to offer. So go ahead: plan something adventurous. This is one activity that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime.