Get Out There- 5 Ways That Travel Can Enrich Your Life

Have you ever sat in your favorite chair, couch or bed and realized that you spend way too much time there? Or maybe you've looked at your rent raise and thought "I don't even want to be here." Does your heart hear it's name being called from far far away?

We've all heard of those people that sell everything, pack up their knapsacks, and hit the road. If you watched the video of Tomislav Perko that I put up in my TED talks post, you may have thought "damn, I'd love to be able to do that."

Millennials like me: those who just got out of high school, maybe you're in community college and have no idea what you want to do with your lives- listen up.

There is immense value in traveling alone or with a friend. Hit the road, take your best friend or significant other and get a change of scene! Take in the fresh air of another state or even country. If your life is at a standstill, save some money and get away for a while, you can gain immense amounts of worldly knowledge and personal insight that can totally alter the way you perceive and approach the rest of your life.

1. Experience Other People's Experiences: Take the time to talk to strangers. You can do this in your home town, take a couple of hours to go to a park or even take the bus and ask the person sitting next to you "hey, how are you doing today?" Most people will be shocked at your inquiry, but what you'll come to find is that people love to talk about themselves. If you ask about their hobbies, their passions, they'll tell you and sometimes you'll influence their entire day. It can be difficult at first, but with time and experience, you'll be able to walk up to just about anyone and learn about who they are.

2. Nature is The Ultimate Medicine: How much time on average do you spend outside? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends only 7% of their lives outside. This is such a shame, because sunlight is one of the easiest treatments for depression and emotional upheaval. Again, this is something that you can do from home- find a new park to visit sometime this week. Take the time to experience the great outdoors, even if it's on a small patch grass in a city park. Go cloud gazing, kick a ball around, or even take a walk. Just be sure to take in some fresh air and feel some real gratitude.

3. Expand Your Tolerance: Despite the efforts going towards ending social prejudice (and the fact that it's 2018) most people hold their own personal feelings towards this or that person. Even if you don't understand a gender, sexuality, style or physical appearance, take your travel opportunity to do things that you wouldn't usually do and respectfully investigate. What makes these people feel good? I personally am not religious; however, the few times that Jehovah's witnesses have knocked on my door I always take the time to listen to what brings them peace and joy. We are all human and believe it or not, all of our beliefs, cultures, appearances, etc. come from the same hierarchy of needs, the same family, the same Earth.

4. Appreciate The Little Things: Sometimes, we have absolutely no idea how spoiled we are. Most of you have access to things like technology, running water, coffee machines, or parents willing to support you. Even if you only have a few of these things, you already are more privileged than people living in the streets or in third world countries. The sad thing is that nowadays, if we lost access to things like we would likely erupt into a frenzy of helplessness and complaint.

We expect things to always stay the same, so we take them for granted. Try spending a day with just you and some essentials. Bring a journal and take the time that you'd usually spend complaining to focus on the marvels around you. Take in a fresh breath of air, feel the grass, notice the strength and power of the buildings; allow yourself to humble, for you too are a part of this Earth. You are just as good as, but not better than it.

5. Experience Really New Things: Locally, we can check out new restaurants, parks and entertainment; in foreign places, we can check out new cultures, natural formations/ landmarks, history, accents, and overall views and ways of life. You wouldn't believe the difference between the bubble that we live in and the outside world- even if it's just the state next-door.

If given the opportunity to go on a trip- go. If you want to create an opportunity to go on a trip- do it! I was recently accepted as one of the only 2,000 of 30,000 applicants to go abroad and study entrepreneurship in AUSTRALIA. I am so excited, and would have never created this opportunity had I not decided to take a leap of faith and, against all odds, apply for the program :) I will be sure to share the events of my upcoming trip once there!

Go, see the world!

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