Addicted To Travel

Oftentimes, when people think of travel they think of all of the places they’d like to go. Their eyes snap shut, and they begin to drift away—at night, or during the day—to a faraway destination. In doing so, many find themselves taking on these locations, whether it be presently—or later on within their life—years down the road. However, even though a number of individuals are always on the go, and enjoy moving from place to place, several carry different motives for doing so. In fact, one of the biggest reasons that people travel is to learn—for learning brings about many great opportunities.

First and foremost, traveling to learn brings new language, depending on what country, state, city, etc. that the traveler decides on. There are a wide range of languages that are spoken in our world today, with over six thousand to learn from. In turn, individuals who travel have the opportunity to not only connect with others through language, but have the opportunity to broaden their own knowledge as well.

Second, traveling to learn brings about new cuisine. For, there are a number of dishes that people can try when they visit different places—because each location has different foods that they are known for. As a result, this allows individuals to get out of their comfort zones, and expose their taste buds to something new, instead of the traditional foods which they are used to.

Third, traveling to learn helps individuals to gain a deeper appreciation for the world around them, and better understand as to how others operate in the world around them. For, as one begins to travel from place to place, they oftentimes find that the people that surround them live a whole lot differently than they do, even if those people are only states away. However, when people don’t travel they fail to expose themselves to such, as they reside only in that which they are accustomed to, rather than enjoying—and learning of—other cultures, foods, landscapes, languages, clothing, etc.

In conclusion, traveling can be beneficial to those who have a desire—and/or willingness to learn—by giving them the opportunity to learn a new language(s), experience new cuisines, learn about different cultures, and/or gain a deeper appreciation for the world around them. In turn, traveling can serve as a life altering experience, and can even be therapeutic for the individual embarking in such, as he/she embraces in his/her surroundings.

The Traveling Writer

When many think of travel, the first thing they think of is a warm place of rest and relaxation—such as a beach, or other similar locales. But while some travel on their own accord, others travel because work requires it. For instance, some of these people have occupations such as travel writing. But, even as such serves as their line of work, travel is still oftentimes enjoyable to most of them, which has lead them to pursue it as a full time career. However, in order for them to do so, they must first establish themselves within that of their field which can be done through a number of ways.

First and foremost is social media, which serves to benefit traveling writers by giving them the opportunity to share their photos and content with the world that surrounds them. Not only that, but it allows others to keep up to date on the things of various countries, continents, and/or states, that remain out of reach to them in that particular moment. This can also help them to gain more knowledge so that they can determine where they would like to travel in the future. Such can give them the opportunity to plan ahead of time in a more efficient way.

Second, travel writers must form a plan through figuring out which destinations, activities, etc. that they are passionate about. For, everyone has a different preference. Some travelers take interest in colder climates, while some take interest in hotter climates. In turn, this may cause individuals to feel lured to locations that follow these types of weather patterns. But, weather is not the only way that traveling writers are able to find their preference. They can find it through locations that they have desired to travel to for a prolonged amount of time. This comes easy to many as most of us have at least one place on our bucket list that we have always wanted to visit.

In conclusion, traveling can be someone’s source of enjoyment no matter whether or not they are doing it of their own accord, or whether or not they are doing it because their occupation requires such. However, one must be careful when traveling because if they are not then they may find the reason behind their exploration is to escape. But, if one travels with good intent, then he/she may find himself/herself experiencing a great joy in doing so, that may differ greatly from that of his/her home life.

The Hopeful Traveler

Day by day, several individuals travel throughout the world, either for their own enjoyment, or because obligations－such as work－requires it of them. But even so, each person has a motive for why he/she does so. For example, the traveling worker pursues that of his/her career while in transit; the traveling learner likes to gain knowledge of various aspects such as language and culture as he/she goes from place to place. Yet among these two comes another type, the hopeful traveler, who may travel 1. to search for his/her soulmate in hopes of finding him/her, and/or 2. who travels in hopes to encounter something different than what he/she is used to.

First and foremost is those who travel to search for their soulmates, in hopes of finding him/her. Some who scope the world －far and wide－for this reason may or may not be comfortable with admitting it right off the bat, as it serves as a subject which lies close to their heart. For, they believe that there is that one special person out there for them, and if they haven’t found them nearby－within that of their current location－then they may somewhere else. But while several are motivated by the pursuit－and/or search－of their other half, many are motivated by other means… encountering something different.

Second is those who travel in hopes of encountering something different than what he/she is used to. These are the travelers who may just want a change within their life, whether it be in an attempt to escape their daily routine, to see different scenery, to embrace themselves with a fresh start, to meet new people, etc. Some may even feel as though by encountering something different they can resolve a conflict－and/or difficult circumstance－in that of their own lives. But while they search for escape, traveling serves as the easiest form of such, a quick getaway. Yet even so, they oftentimes find that the resolve they searched world wide for－and needed all along－was right within that of their own front door, rather than countries away.

In conclusion, hopeful travelers are oftentimes ambitious dreamers. For, they want the best for themselves－and will accept nothing less－ until they obtain what they are looking for. But even though hopeful travelers all connect－and/or relate－in this way, they still contrast greatly because the motives that one holds for traveling will always differ from that of the next person, even if it’s minor. For, no one traveler is the same－just as no one person is the same－due to differing interests.

We all know someone with wanderlust. The kind of person that does not like to stay in one place for long. The kind that has a burning hunger to adventure to unknown places and have unplanned experiences, to see things and try things they would not be able to see and try by planting roots. This type of person often gets overlooked by society as a throw away person. They are stereotyped as not contributing to society and lacking direction.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The saying “not all who wander are lost” is the reality that many people are too ignorant to accept. Certain types of people spend time wandering and it is a necessary component of our society. Just the way bees play a necessary role in cross pollinating different plants, wandering persons play an important role in spreading cultural ideas and community. They benefit themselves through self discovery and they benefit society by adding color and texture to it.

The idea that we all have to live in the same way is preposterous. A traveling lifestyle is an alternative way of living. The average traveler supports themselves by finding work as they travel or buy using artisan skills to earn a meager living. They are independent, despite living on the cheap. Who would find fault in that, besides someone who fears and rejects people they do not understand? The traveling lifestyle is harmless and offers the traveler great reward.

The next time you encounter a compulsive traveler, be gracious to them, not judgmental. The kind of person who wanders is soulful and is seeking answers. Some people do it by nature and some do it to heal from past hurts. Either way, they are on a personal journey that is harmless to the rest of society. What they are doing requires bravery and open-mindedness. They possess the courage to step away from the security of the working world for a time and listen to what the universe has to tell them.

Humanity has a love affair with traveling. We have an innate desire to wander and adventure in order to experience everything our habitat has to offer. We want to know what is just around every corner and behind every waterfall. A number of things may spawn this desire to travel, ranging from a curious nature to defiance against parents or coping with a past trauma. Or perhaps it is merely because we evolved traveling as we populated the earth. Whatever causes it, wandering and traveling is an old tradition for humanity.

The modern wanderer is typically inspired by figures like Henry David Thoreau and Jack Kerouac. Both of these historical literary figures abandoned a life among society, at least for a time, to travel their respective areas of the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. There have been many other prominent travelers, such as Chris McCandless who traveled from the United States to Alaska in the 1990’s, who inspired generations of people to follow their wanderlust and live according to their own rules for a time instead of society’s.

But this tradition did not begin in recent centuries. Many aboriginal peoples have traditions that date back thousands of years that involve the young people of their tribes venturing into the wilderness for a time as a rights of passage ritual. Many cultures in many nations embraced long standing traditions of sea-faring and trekking for their young people, incorporated into their coming of age years. This is an important and well respected practice through out the world.

In modern times, a majority of Westernized youth does not participate in this old tradition of humanity. With global culture reigning supreme and young people more enchanted with their cell phones than with the natural world and its humanities, traveling as a right of passage is becoming a lost art form. Those that discover it, however, will often claim it was the most magical years of their lives.

There are people in this world for whom security and responsibility are the primary values. They follow all of society’s rules, receiving responsible degrees, entering the work force when they are expected to and creating a very tidy life for themselves and their loved ones. And then there are those who do not fit that mold. The ones who question all of society’s constructs, who get degrees in the arts and then, instead of taking a career, choose to wander the planet instead, at the cost of security and financial responsibility, in order to discover themselves.

People have the freedom to choose between these two options, however, only one of them is going to earn them the praise and support of society. All of Western society is constructed to accommodate the first type of person; the one who fits into the predetermined mold. Society honors people like this because they follow the rules and do not rock the boat. Society knows that they will be a loyal tax payer and consumer, and celebrates their lifestyle.

For those who think there is more to life than receiving a good pension and wish to throw away the rule book that society offers, there is much less support. Those who take time to travel, learn about the world, experience life changing moments and gain perspective are offered very little. They have to hope for seasonal work, beg for a place to stay and not hope for anything more than minimum wage. Every establishment they work for or with assumes they have a permanent address somewhere. Tax law is not written for their circumstances. There are numerous ways that long term travelers are told by society that their lifestyle is not welcome.

Like so many have voiced, society is crumbling around the rigid constructs that it tightly enforces. If it does not find a way to make room for people with alternative lifestyles, such as travelers, it will fall apart.

There is a unique part of our psychology that we experience while we are traveling, and it comes much more naturally to some people than it does to others. Being home in the midst of routine and familiarity exercises certain parts of our brain, while pulling up our roots to travel and wander exercises other parts. The non-traveler is focused on organization, efficiency, duty and comfort, while the traveler is focused on whatever moment they are in.

By stepping out of our day to day lives in order to travel, we are exploring a different side of our identities. It feels that we are pretending to be someone else for a time, which for most people, is delightful and cathartic. There are those who feel very uncomfortable travelling, as if they are betraying their responsibilities to their usual identities. Studies into human behavior reveal, however, that having the ability to move fluidly between one’s stationary identity and one’s travelling identity is a sign of good mental health and awareness.

The ability to surrendering one’s sense of control in order to embrace adventure shows strength of character and flexibility. It is a sign of strength for someone to step into the unknown of travel and embrace it rather than feel nervous because of it. Humankind evolved to be able to wander. Wandering has been a necessity throughout human history. Not only has it been a necessity, it has also been an instinct. People experience spirituality, purpose, self-discovery and personal growth while they are travelling.

People use travel and wandering as a form of escapism. It is true that people can come to depend on travel too much, to the point that the compulsion to travel becomes a type of unhealthy addiction. But a degree of escapism is simply therapeutic, and people are entitled to healthy amounts of escapism. Travel is a very healthy expression of a person’s need to escape and experience radically different things than their day to day life can offer them.

The expression “itchy feet” is centuries old, but still captures the essence of wandering quite well. The expression came from the metaphorical representation of what a wanderer does to relieve their wanderlust. Where as someone with itchy feet would not be able to hold still for long, likewise, a compulsive wanderer is not able to stay in one place for very long. This can be for healthy reasons or unhealthy reasons, but their outward behavior is the same regardless.

When someone wanders for healthy reasons, it is an endeavor worth celebrating. One can wander in order to grow as a person. This type of itchy feet is good for a person who is in need of self discovery. By breaking from the things they are familiar with in order to meet the world where they are at and explore what it has to offer, they are expanding their identity and their scope. This is commendable. Often, people who do this are labeled unfairly as not having direction or lacking focus. This is a small minded estimation of a person who wanders in order to grow and reflects poorly on the person passing the judgment.

The unhealthy version of wanderlust is the case where a person is running from something, and cannot hold still for fear that it will catch up to them. This type of itchy feet ends up being destructive to a person’s behavior. Running from life circumstances is often the result of trauma or of dysfunction that entered a person’s life early on. Travel can be therapeutic for a time for this type of person, but ultimately, they will need to face the past they are running from, either with the help of their support system of the help of a professional counselor.

The expression “Not all who wander are lost” aptly acknowledges both types of people, and illustrates that not everyone who wanders does it for the same reasons. This is important to appreciate. The next time your friend or family member who is prone to wandering and traveling sets out for the horizon, give them a fair estimation of why they are traveling.