<!–
A few weeks after returning from an incredible trip to Iceland, I was at my sister and brother-in-law’s house, talking to my twin 7-year-old nephews about the trip.
They were asking questions about Iceland and then one of them asked where else I had been. When I started listing places, the other twin said, “You go a lot of places. Do you sometimes just stay home?”
It made me laugh, because I’ve heard that same exact question from many others in my life. It is true, I am on the go a lot, but not always overnight to places to which I must fly.
I told my nephew that I love to travel and, although he didn’t follow up with any additional questions, it got me thinking about what it is about travel that I love.
It first brought me back to one of my favorite quotes:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” — Mark Twain
That quote summarizes a big part of why I love to travel. The world is a big place with so many ways of life, unique people, and differences in perspectives. Exploring and learning about those differences is humbling. It changes my own perspective and ignites new ideas and thoughts in me.
Humans have so much in common, yet so much is different.
Jamaica taught me about not going into debt just to uphold a certain image with your home. Iceland added to that lesson when I talked to two locals about living within range of a volcano that would lead to their homes being destroyed next time that volcano erupts.
“Our homes are simply containers. Lives are what matter,” is what they told me.
Touring China with two different tour guides, one younger who had studied abroad and had traveled significantly, the other older and who had always lived in China, gave me a new perspective about China and how the different generations feel about the country’s leadership.
In Costa Rica, it was put into perspective for me how spoiled we are in America to get deliveries so quickly. Not everyone everywhere can get deliveries the next day. Some cannot even get them within a week. In the United States, we are blessed (or are we?) with the technology and infrastructure we have that allows us quick delivery. Although, it may be disrupting our ability to be patient.
Many of the other countries I’ve visited are much older than the United States and amaze me with their long-standing traditions and heritage. It gives me a new perspective and understanding of the United States, realizing just how young this country is.
Even within the United States, there is so much to explore and learn and open my eyes to. Seeing different geographies, hearing different accents, and speaking to locals from around the country always leads to new knowledge and ideas that I wouldn’t have developed otherwise.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma taught me that I do like steak, I just wasn’t asking for it prepared in a way I would like it. Minneapolis, Indianapolis, New York, Pittsburgh, and other cities taught me that not all big cities are the same and that they have very different personalities and vibes.
Acquiring that knowledge and experiencing different perspectives changes a person for the better. Realizing you are a little person in a big world changes a person for the better. Understanding that the way you live in your corner of the world is not the only way to live and might not even be the best way to live a happy life has power to change a person for the better. Seeing similarities and differences between humans across the globe can be both reassuring and refreshing.
Travel is a great adventure. I know I am a better person for having traveled. Travel experiences will always (in my opinion) outweigh stuff. It opens eyes. Changes perspectives. Adds knowledge. Grows a person’s mind.
Whether it is a weekend getaway to a new community nearby or a month-long excursion to someplace far away, approach travel with an open mind, a desire to learn, and a willingness to let the experience change you, and you will become a better person because of it.
Jackie Krawczak is president of Jackie Krawczak LLC. Her column runs every three weeks on Thursdays. Follow Jackie on Twitter @jkrawczak.