7 lessons for Life that Travel teaches you

Books and classrooms might teach you the philosophies of life and how to survive in the jungle of social circles. But at the end of the day, the real-life experiences and practical knowledge is what really shapes an individual. You might know about the challenges of travelling to a new city, learning about their lifestyles and culture. However, it is only after visiting the place would you actually learn how to deal with situations in a milieu where you do not belong. How do you blend in? How do you strike up a connection? What would make you acceptable? Should you cower to peer pressure? Questions like these can be answered once you wear your travel boots and skip town.

There are many life lessons to be learnt from travelling. Many of you might consider travel to be simply a way to relieve stress and relax. But as times are changing, the meaning of travelling is also seeing some changes. It is no more just a leisure expedition but the ideal learning curve that individuals seek. What could travel teach you, though? Besides the cultural relevance that comes with travelling to a new place, what are the other lessons that travel teaches you? Find out below.

Lessons you learn from travelling

The world is not a scary place!

The first and foremost thing that you learn from travelling is how the world is not a scary place. Sure, it is massive and can be quite intimidating. But it most certainly isn't a scary place. Despite varied ethnicity, the lives are the same, the struggles are the same, the inspiring tales are alike, and everything you get to learn from travel is a reflection on your personality. It all rounds down to you, taking that first step and choosing travel as your teacher.

The bliss of simplicity

When it comes to travelling, the idea of spending time in a vintage villa with butlers at your service paints quite a fine picture. Sure, to many, this is their ideal vacation. However, for many budget travellers or even someone seeking answers and self-reflection, the best approach to pick is to opt for a simple travel plan. This means cutting off all the jazz and pizzazz from the travel itinerary and choosing the life of a simpleton. You would be surprised by the life lessons travelling in simplicity will teach. Seeing the struggles and way of life of people you travel with would certainly have quite an impact on you.

Everyone has a story, what's yours?

You couldn't have asked for a better way to find new and inspiring stories! While you might prefer immersing yourself behind a self-help book, it is recommended that you choose to go out, travel, meet people, hear their stories and find that zing you've been missing in your life. Life lessons that travelling teaches you can come from the experiences of the people you meet during your journey. Let the stories of fellow travellers give you a new perspective on life. In fact, for all you know, you could also pose as an inspiration to someone by sharing your own story. Travelling is like therapy but on wheels.

The power of solitude

Ever thought of getting some "me time"? It is easily one of the best options to pick to get yourself all the 'me time' in the world. Often people are under the misconception that solitude will make you lonely. However, travelling alone and being on yourself is actually more powerful than you can imagine. All it requires is for you to take that step and venture out on your own. Being on your own has perks of its own. You're able to soak in the beauty of your surroundings, you can learn more about yourself, and you can explore places, interact with people, all on your own. Further, you can always disconnect from the world and relish the tranquillity that a basic cabin in the woods has to

It is the best test for you

Have you ever questioned your capabilities? One of the most important life lessons that travel teaches you is to discover your true self and your capabilities. You might have doubted yourself and wondered if you would be able to venture out and successfully return unscathed. A trip to any destination of your choice would actually help you understand yourself better. In fact, it would make you stronger and confident. Not just that, you would further be able to explore more about your own personality and what you are like on your own. Take the leap of faith and let travel school you.

Travel is about the journey

People have often said travel is about the journey and not the destination. Well, they have said that about life but enthused travellers have followed the quote with travel in its place. Travel helps you learn about the culture of a place that perhaps the destination cannot offer. At the end of the day, experience comes from where you choose to draw inspirations. For instance, reaching the summit of a mountain is not what makes a trek memorable. It is the ordeal of hiking up the trails, the people you meet on your way up, the lessons learned during the climb and the things you see is what makes the experience one to remember.

Time is an illusion

A very famous quote by Douglas Adams from his book The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy where the character Ford says, "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so." The saying couldn't have been more apt to describe what travel teaches you. It is true. When you're on a trip exploring new terrains and crossing paths with interesting folks, time seems to pass without your knowledge. In fact, travel actually makes you respect the time and at the same time, understand that it is up to you to manage it. Either you can cower under the ticking of the clock, or you can ignore the device and live in the moment. Travel teaches you both the sides of the coin but eventually, the choice is yours to make. Either way, you do return knowing that time is just an illusion.

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