Why we love to travel
Why do people travel? Sounds like a sort of weird question because the answer is so obvious, isn’t it? People travel because they like to travel. Surely? New places. New people. New things to see and do. What’s not to love? Well, when you stop to think about it, the reasons not to love travelling are many.
There’s the issue of expense, for one thing. Travel isn’t cheap. There can be problems with language barriers and finding food you like. You get lost a lot. You constantly have to convert prices in your mind and you risk getting ripped off – and what if you plan to purchase something of high value with an overseas money transfer, there’s a whole set of rules around that (see https://www.exiap.com/guides/international-wire-transfers). In fact, you spend so much of your day just getting by that it’s hard to find time to enjoy your new surroundings.
So, still feeling confident that travelling is one unsurpassed joy after another? Let’s take a closer look at the real reasons behind why we all love to travel.
Breaking the cycle
Life isn’t free. You need somewhere to live and you need food and you need transport to get to a job to pay for all of these things. That means exchanging your time and services for remuneration from an employer, and that means doing the same job (more or less) as required, day in, day out, until you become so highly specialised in that one role that you’re never likely to change career.
With the days, weeks, and months blending into one, travel presents an opportunity to put physical and mental distance between you and the daily grind.
Gain perspective (for personal reasons)
Life doesn’t follow a rule book. Not one to which any of us is privy, at least. That being said, we nevertheless expect it to go to plan. We decide we want things to go a certain way and when they don’t – which is inevitable – our bubble is burst and we have to rebuild somehow.
This could be a failed relationship or a job role that never worked out or the loss of a loved one (or even a close call with our own mortality like a car accident or health scare). Whatever the catalyst, travel can be the antidote to feeling deflated and dejected. Perhaps a skydive in New Zealand? Or swimming with dolphins in Florida? Or even a trip to see the Northern Lights? Whatever it is, there’s a travelling experience out there that can ground you and help you gain perspective.
Finally, travel is adventurous. Many travel junkies simply love the rush of not knowing if it’s safe to cross the road.
