To get a new perspective
“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca
Ever experienced that AHA! moment when you are away?
Challenging ourselves
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch
That feeling after you have pushed yourself beyond what you thought your limitations were. That!
Learning
Each time you travel you learn at least some of the history of a country, their customs, the geography of the region, new recipes, you taste new wines etc.
Expanding your perspective
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain
Getting in touch with yourself
When I spent two weeks cycling around Portugal and Spain alone, after a while when you get used to the beautiful scenery, there were not many distractions. You pedal for hours on end, it’s just you, your thoughts and the peddling. You can of get to know yourself very well.
Appreciating your life
It might sound silly but after travelling through rural Morocco, Uganda, India and Turkey you appreciate very small every day things like drinking water from the tap, using a clean white porcelain toilet, opening the fridge to get a snack, jumping in your car to get somewhere.
Creativity
Studies show that psychological distance helps our brains solve problems more creatively.
Building and strengthening relationships
I don’t need to talk about our busy lives, how a weekend passes filled with work, doing jobs around the house, scheduling exercise, socials etc and by Sunday evening you are exhausted. So after a week together in some foreign place, there are no plumbing shops to visit, gardening to be done etc, it’s just us.
To have an adventure and experience
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller
Relaxing and rejuvenating
I had to add this although I have never had a holiday lying on the beach or by a swimming pool or sleeping late. I know of a lot of people who do it and have seen it happen in Camps Bay and while on holiday. So I believe it works…