I know the world can be scary sometimes, or a lot of the time. We are raised being told to be weary of strangers and not to walk at night alone, because there can be danger, and something bad could happen to you.
Then there is the common fear of flight, or change. We like what we know because it is comfortable. Being thousands of feet in the air in a claustrophobic carrier is not everyone's cup of tea, but if you can manage that, I promise it will be worth it.
The world is massive, and full of beautiful sights and beautiful people and you will be amazed at what all humanity has accomplished. There is something incredible, too, about seeing something you have seen so many pictures of, but instead it is in person. The true realization that everything you see through a screen or in a book is real and out there somewhere is an indescribable feeling. It makes you excited, and it gives you a new kind of hope about the possibilities of your future.
I believe the most unexpected thing you get from visiting new places is an appreciation for home that you never had before. I know I have always been travel hungry, that desire motivating most of what I do and what I am working towards. Though that has not changed, I feel lucky all the time now. It is not something that comes and goes in moments, but is constant every day. It is so easy to move through life, only going through the motions, and not appreciating how extraordinary even those motions are.
To see the way other people live, and to really experience the realization that there are billions of people in the world living their lives just as you are is fascinating. It takes your breath away.
I know it is expensive. I know it is scary. Maybe you do not have the desire I have for it, but if you went, you would. Save the money, stop spending it on temporary pleasures. Take control of your fears. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. What once seemed like an irrational amount of money to spend on one thing became nothing compared to the experiences I have gained. Your perspective will be forever changed, so I hope you find the motivation to try it, at least once.
You will not regret it.