Travel

9/18/20

Being raised by a travel agent parent had a lot of perks. I got to experience New York City for my first and probably only time. It was before 9/11 and looking back at some of the pictures with the twin towers always makes me feel some type of way. The main reason I would probably consider going back is to see the 9/11 memorial or how it has changed in general. Other than that for me it was a see-it-once-to-say-you've-seen-it type of place. Nothing against New York it is just not for me (too many people). 

There are some places I would consider going back to again and again. Like Switzerland. Or London. Or just Europe in general. Okay I admit I just miss traveling on a whole. I wish I could travel more but it is so expensive just to get over there. Then you have to pay to stay somewhere, pay to eat, pay to do stuff. It adds up very quickly. Part of my job is looking at business trip expenses so I see those numbers all the time. I really hate it costs so much money because I think traveling to different countries and interacting with people from different cultures is a very beneficial thing. 

Traveling reminds us that we are not the only ones out there in this world. There are many other cultures, some that might seem unusual to us at first but taking the time to learn about/from them rather than judging them they will hopefully extend the same. Get curious and start asking questions. What does daily life look like in other countries? At first we tend to notice our differences so it may seem like they are from a different world until you start to notice some similarities too. In our own ways we are all just trying to get by. 

[Unpopular opinion- I think our differences are what makes us stronger as a society. I am not a leader or a teacher and I do not think I could ever join the military so I am so very appreciative to the people who do. Some people are better at somethings than others and that is okay. I really believe that it takes all kinds to make the world go around.]

The area where you grew up plays a huge part in shaping your worldview which you do not fully realize until you venture away from that environment for awhile. We tend to get so caught up in our daily lives that I think sometimes, without meaning to, we become a little self-centered and forget to realize the bigger impact of how we live our lives. We forget sometimes that we are all humans living on the same planet. 

I think traveling is good for your mental health because it allows you to step out of your daily routine for a bit. It is therapeutic for me. I feel like I get so tired of the routine of everyday life so for me traveling is a reset. It feels so nice to take a timeout from my daily life and go someplace different. 

I love traveling to Colorado because mountain living is so much different than city living. I have had to get used to it taking 30 minutes to an hour to get to a nearby city because you have to go around these huge mountains. But the views through the mountains are so worth it though- check out Rio Grande National Forest. 

Looking up at the moutains I get the same feeling when looking up at the stars and it really puts my life and everything into prospective. You are reminded just how small and insignificant you are. Sometimes I really get tired of being in the city, all packed together with a bunch of other people, surrounded by concrete. 

I like being out in nature and I did not realize how much until I went to Colorado. My husband and I never were very outdoorsy people but something about that place made me want to go out and explore what's out there. Thanks to Colorado I now like hiking. I even bought my own hiking boots and everything. I like it because it is a very rewarding workout- the views at the top make it worth it. 

Now you can easily use your computer or phone to learn about other cultures- there's even an app to learn a new language called Duolingo. For me, since the virus has halted travel, I have been using Google maps to virtually visit any place on earth I want, or at least anyplace with street views. It is really cool to see pictures taken in these places and imagine you are there. I'm like "Oh I have always heard this place was beautiful- I wonder if it actually is that beautiful." And let me tell you, most of the time = YES. I know I will probably never to get to travel everywhere I want to go but it is fun to use the imagination sometimes to escape for a bit.

Experiencing other cultures helps you to be more respectful of others you might come across. It doesn't mean you should be ashamed of where you grew up but I bet there is something you can learn from them. Sometimes seeing other people's point of view helps you notice things that you don't normally notice in your worldview.