The Life-Changing Benefits of Traveling the World

A medieval traveler Ibn Battuta once stated “Traveling - It leaves you speechless then turns you into a storyteller.” I have been traveling since I was born, so I have many stories to tell. I have traveled to 7 countries, 17 states, and been to Disney World 12 times. Our family loves to travel around the world together! When we are visiting these places I like to take in the moment then later when I get home I have another story to tell. People should travel around the world because it helps out with being more global-minded, it encourages us to be more of a risk-taker, and it lets us learn without knowing.

Traveling is great because it helps you become more global-minded. According to the toofly foundation “experiencing new environments challenges our ideas and encourages open-mindedness. There’s an opportunity to expand our thinking and embrace the unknown to adapt to new situations. It helps to create a certain appreciation for the complexity of the world around us”  Let’s break down what that means, when you travel you understand the variety of cultures around the world. Some might think the entire world is just like living in South Carolina, however when you travel you discover so much more. For example, when I went to Italy I was able to learn some of the Italian language. When we went into a gelato shop I said what I wanted in Italian. Ciao, un gelato in cono, per favore. Grazie. This means Hello, one cone of ice cream please, thank you! Speaking in Italian is hard but once you learn it, it is hard to forget. English and Italian are two completely different languages so when you learn it you can go back, blend in with the locals and feel like a real Italian. This research shows that traveling helps us to become more global minded.

Traveling is also great because it makes you a risk-taker. A study said that 70% of travelers say they are more likely to take risks and accecpt new challenges compared to 52% of non-travelers. This research tells us that a traveler is far more likely to take risks and embrace new challenges. When I went to France I had the courage to try a snail on a local food tour in Paris. Then I discovered it was the grossest thing I've ever eaten. So in that moment I can say I was a risk-taker even though the risk was not rewarding. When I travel it makes me so much more confident to take those risks. When I visited Jamaica I learned that it's pretty easy to breathe underwater with scuba diving gear. I learned that while going the deepest I have ever been underwater by something called snuba diving. Snuba diving is where you can scuba dive while still attached to the boat. You can go as far down as the oxygen rope leads or go snorkeling on the surface with the same equipment. This risk was an awesome experience. Traveling is a great way to step out of your comfort zone and become more of a risk-taker.

The last reason I think traveling is great is it lets you learn without knowing. Benjamin Disraeli once stated “like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” I think this is so true it really tells that you can learn without knowing. When I visited the Grand Canyon I noticed it had many layers. I learned that these layers were formed by the Colorado river running through it over millions of years. I know this because my dad told me as we were looking over the massive canyon. When I visited the Roman Colosseum I learned that the gladiator arena was the very first design for the modern sports stadiums. l learned this as I listened to the tour guide tell me the story of the Colosseum. I didn’t realize I was learning at the time but the fact stuck with me. Later when I was standing in the Stade de France I remembered the story of the colosseum and how it was built. This showed me that traveling helps you learn without knowing.

Benjamin Franklin once stated  “In any moment of decision the best thing to do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing is nothing.” I would like for everybody in the room to close their eyes and picture a place you would want to travel to that you have not been to. What would you do there? Would you do something outside of your comfort zone? Would you want to live the way the locals live? What is stopping you from going there and learning? Now open your eyes please. If you listened to Benjamin Franklin the worst thing you can do now is nothing, but in my opinion the best thing you can do is to travel to the place you just imagined. Travel there so that you can be more global-minded, be more of a risk-taker, and learn without knowing. I hope you find a way to travel around the world because it really is AMAZING!