Wanderlust seems to be a buzz word in popular culture today. Walk into any store in the mall and you’ll find a graphic tee with cute little arrows and artistic font with some travel related phrase, whether it’s “wanderlust,” “find your adventure,” or “get lost.” What’s the travel craze really about? It’s more than just some wannabe bohemian fad. It’s more than a rebellious teenage desire to escape. The fascination with travel is a fascination with the world. It’s an unquenchable spirit of discovery that urges people to go, to see, and to conquer. The world is more connected than ever before, and there are more ways than ever to make the connection personal. For all of you are wondering what this wanderlust fad is all about, there are a few things you should know.
Travelling is about more than getting away; it’s about experiencing the way of life of a new people group. You don’t have to go to a different country to experience different cultures. Even within the United States there are many different philosophies, dialects, and quirky mannerisms that stem from local history, geography, and the people who founded every single town, even if they aren’t on the map. The best way to understand how a different group of people live is to go where they are, talk to locals, and learn their stories. How do they pronounce the name of the town? How did it get that name? These are some of the most interesting conversations travelers can have. Go to the restaurants they recommend and check out their favorite places to hang out. Sure, go and see the sights all the tourists are hitting, but real travelers aren’t afraid to get off the beaten path. When in Rome…
True travelers aren’t afraid to be spontaneous. If they come across something that looks fun, they go do it. Itineraries are great for planning purposes, but sometimes the greatest experiences you’ll have while travelling aren’t on the to do list. True travelers leave room in the schedule for unexpected adventures, after all, it is vacation. There are no deadlines (except maybe catching their flights). One of the greatest benefits of travel is getting to know yourself through unexpected situations. How do you react when the keys get locked in the trunk of the rental car? Those of us with wanderlust will find a way to keep moving, whether it’s pulling out the backseat and all the luggage to find the key or hitchhiking a ride to the nearest bus stop or payphone. When we get outside our comfort zones by going places we’ve never gone before, we flourish and grow.
The most alluring thing about travel is not merely getting away. It truly is the journey that counts. The act of simply going is what we long for. What we enjoy the most is connecting to people through their places. We keep travelling even after we find places we love because there’s always something new to experience and something more to discover about ourselves. The greatest thing travelers gain from their wanderings is truly an understanding of themselves as framed by the various aspects of human nature that are highlighted in each new place they go. Seeing how other people live makes us reevaluate our own lifestyles, and we can only grow as we learn through our interactions with new cultures. If the idea of getting lost still scares you, maybe you should try it. You might find that you have a little bit of wanderlust hidden somewhere inside you, too.
