Stephen Curet Jr. is a frequent flier and travel blogger that enjoys everything that traveling entails. In the following article, Stephen Curet Jr. discusses the benefits of traveling, beyond being immersed in new sights, sounds and culture. Read on to understand what other benefits travelers reap from their destinations.
Traveling is by far one of the most popular leisure activities in the USA. According to NYU, 80% of families take a vacation during summer break and Solo Traveler World states that 96% of people aged 25-34 are likely to travel independently. But why do people travel? Besides being able to explore a new city or country, there are numerous benefits of traveling.
Sense of Self-Reliance and Independence
Stephen Curet, Jr. says that one of the biggest takeaways while traveling is a sense of independence. New places, especially ones in foreign countries, will not have the same familiarity and comforts as your hometown. While there are tour guides that can assist with every step of the trip, there is something empowering about relying on one’s own sense of self-reliance states Stephen Curet, Jr.
From navigating a neighborhood to ordering food, traveling encourages people to step out of their comfort zone and use their own smarts to get around. That in itself is exciting and powerful.
Friendship And Human Connection
Whether it’s to a foreign country or a different part of the state, not everyone will be able to communicate with you as easily as family and friends. Traveling, however, blurs those boundaries and shows that friendship and human connection can be found virtually anywhere.
Stephen Curet, Jr. explains that there is a universal need for bonding and even if there’s no common language, oftentimes facial and body language can say a lot. Whether it was a stranger who helped out with flagging down a taxi or the kind person who asked if they could help with directions, opportunities to form connections with others are everywhere while traveling.
Learning Empathy and Humility
Similar to the previous point, Stephen Curet, Jr. explains that traveling also teaches empathy and humility. There’s often idea that certain ways of thinking or doing things are “right” when in actuality, there are many different “right” ways.
While traveling, the ego is often put aside, and travelers learn to do things as locals do says Stephen Curet, Jr. Acting in a way that’s common elsewhere can often result in negative interactions and experiences. There’s no proof that there’s a “right” way and the majority of travelers understand this.
Real World Classroom
Stephen Curet, Jr. says that traveling is the perfect way to get an education without having to sit in a stuffy classroom. Remember learning about ancient Egypt? Visiting Cairo places people right in the midst of the great Giza Pyramids!
Irish singer and lecturer Frank Harte famously said that “those in power write history,” meaning that the people who held positions of power got to share their interpretation of how things went down. Traveling allows people to gain a new perspective on events and history that may differ from what they learned in the classroom.
Master Valuable Life and Career Skills
Knowing how to plan a trip is not only useful for traveling; planning also teaches valuable life and career skills according to Stephen Curet, Jr.
Putting a trip together requires organization and the ability to juggle different pieces of a bigger project, a skill that will be helpful in both a personal and professional setting. There’s booking the hotel, but also incorporating the different activities, food to eat, and transportation.
If traveling with others, going on a trip together teaches patience and teamwork, much like working with others at work or in your personal life. Being able to compromise and communicate are important aspects of traveling.
Flexibility And Adaptability
When things don’t quite go the way they should, it’s easy to get frustrated explains Stephen Curet, Jr. Similar to real life, there will always be obstacles to overcome. Traveling teaches us to roll with the punches and remain flexible. Being able to adapt to a constantly changing situation is not only beneficial while on vacation but it also helps with navigating the day-to-day that most people go through.
Breaking Stereotypes
Certain places bring to mind specific images and attitudes. Most people don’t bother to question these stereotypes until they actually travel there. Then something happens; there’s a shift in the way a certain group of people is perceived explains Stephen Curet, Jr.
Traveling to places where the culture is vastly different from your own can be an eye-opening experience. Maybe the traveler realizes that all the people they are meeting are nothing like they imagined. Or maybe they see glimpses of the stereotype but realize that there’s only a small grain of truth to it.
Either way, traveling is an opportunity to learn more about a new culture and its people. There are so many nuances to humanity and traveling is just one step toward better understanding who we share the planet with. So, get out there and book another trip!
