“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
The money goes toward the memories made by yourself and with loved ones like family and friends. The high from buying a new pair of shoes fades away after time, but the memories of traveling last forever. You have the opportunity to see new cultures that you have only read about in books or seen on TV. It may be different than what you have seen and you like the culture in person better! You can meet people from all over the world and network with them, which can create more chances to travel in the future.
Once, I traveled in the Bahamas and met someone from Africa with whom I am still in contact with today. Other travelers can also suggest great places to go where you are or more places that you can travel that they enjoyed. You can buy fabulous clothes and accessories from the other places to bring home. Normally it is cheaper to buy something with character than something that everyone else has access to at your local mall.
Everyone travels to escape from their busy every day lives. Reality can be so depressing and although retail therapy can help a little bit at first, traveling can help clear your mind and see what is best for you. Yes, it's exciting to save up and buy a new accessory that you've been staring at in the store window or online for months, but that piece will only have a thrill for so long. In a few weeks, it could possibly be something that just sits in your closet that you don't want to wear again. We all know that we wear one outfit once before we just get tired of it or the season changes. In Chicago, it's impossible to have one article of clothing that you can wear all 365 days of the year.
You learn to appreciate your home by spending time away from it. As the saying goes "distance makes the heart grow fonder." I believe that there is nothing more refreshing than seeing apparel from my hometown when traveling to far away places. It brings out a large amount of pride seeing apparel from my favorite Chicago sports team like the Bulls, Bears or, of course, the Blackhawks. Whether you choose to buy a life changing travel experience or need to buy a whole new wardrobe in bed while watching Netflix, you will not regret traveling and looking forward to going to a place where people don't know your name.
"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous
