It seems as though the vast majority of people, no matter what age, long to travel—maybe not the world, but to a specific place. Unfortunately, the older we get, the busier we get, making it more difficult to fit a trip to the Bahamas in our schedules.
So, the solution? Travel while young. It seems impractical, seeing that most young people do not have the funds to do so, however it is possible.
According to Sarah Hansen of Lifehack, traveling was she was young changed her forever.
“I have visited most of the continental United States, plus many cities in Alaska and Hawaii. I also traveled abroad to Africa, Switzerland, Ireland, Great Britain, Scotland, France, Mexico, and Bonaire,” Hansen said, “I then lived for several years in Grenada, West Indies. I wouldn’t trade my experiences for the world, and I still have so many countries yet to visit.”
Hansen said that there are seven reasons as to why it is important for young people to travel, all of which she experienced firsthand through all of her adventures.
First of all, she said that it changes the way you relate to the world.
“When you travel to other countries and see the amazing beauty of sunsets over seas, eagles riding mountain currents, monkeys swinging through rain forests, grizzlies catching salmon in the rapids, majestic waterfalls spilling off vertical drops, and volcanoes smoking under their fiery breath, you realize the world is full of more beauty that you are capable of seeing in a lifetime. But, you still have the intense passion to try,” Hansen said.
Not going out and seeing the world when we are young creates less of a passion and drive to do so when we are older.
Hansen also said that traveling humbles you, and allows one to better relate to others.
“When I traveled, I learned about other cultures. I realized that my life could be enriched by developing friendships with people who didn’t look or act like me.”
Pushing our educational horizons and going out of our comfort zones is an important thing that we must learn how to do early on. Both of which add to our list of reasons to get out there.
“Traveling makes history come alive. The stories are no longer pictures in a book, but tangible memories you remember much longer than anything you could study in school,” she says.
Lastly, we never know which day will be our last, so it is critical that we do the things we want to while we can.
So get out there and do the things you want to do, see what you want to see. Money may be tight, same goes for time, but one trip out of the country could change your life forever.
