Asra Yousuf

Is it just me or is your Instagram feed also filled with drool-worthy photos of places that look too good to be real? The glaciers of Iceland, the safaris of South Africa, the lakes of Patagonia… and the list is endless! After the forceful confinement brought about by the pandemic, everyone seems to be traveling! But why? Why put in the time, money and energy to charter into unfamiliar territories?

Traveling is often on top of people’s bucket list, and new year resolutions. But traveling simply for the case of checking some boxes can be quite unfulfilling. After all, the comfort of your bed is unparalleled. Then why do we choose to go through the harrowing experience that airport security lines can sometimes be, plunge into the unknowns of a new destination and put ourselves out of your comfort zone?

On my way back from a recent trip, I was fumbling with these questions only to realize that there is never a singular purpose. Every trip is different, just like the places we travel to and hence, the purpose behind it varies as well. Travelling with intention can help you make better decisions about the places you choose to go to and the experiences you seek. So I encourage you to ask what you seek from your next trip. Here are some options-

Refresh

Your brain gets too comfortable in your everyday surroundings. You need to make it uncomfortable. You need to spend some time in another land, among people that do things differently than you. Travel makes the world look new, and when the world looks new, our brains work harder

‘Steal Like An Artist’ by Austin Kleon

After every trip, I experience a sudden burst of energy! I clean up the house. Cook some comfort food after having lived off restaurant food for a while. Life seems to get a fresh start after a trip- giving you the opportunity to set new goals, build new routines or give a renewed attempt at the old ones.

Challenge

Travel involves stepping outside your comfort zone and experiencing places, cultures and terrains you might not have encountered before. Anything can happen when you leave the comfort of your home- a flat tire, a snow storm, or not being able to communicate with the locals. So much of travel is pushing your boundaries and realizing how well you can adapt in adverse situations.

The idea of taking a solo trip had always scared me for the longest while, knowing that I would not have anyone to fall back on, when needed. But when I finally did it, the sense of accomplishment was something I hadn’t experienced in the longest while. The victorious feeling came from having tested my boundaries and realizing that it was not as intimidating in reality as it was in my head.

Experience

If you consider the world in its entirety, you come to terms with the minuscule portion of the planet you inhabit. So much of how you think, live and behave is a function of the environment around you- the places you have lived and the people you have met. When you expose yourself to different cultures, you also expose yourself to an alternate approach to living life and new perspectives. You get to question your habit and opinions. You acknowledge your privilege when visiting under-resourced parts of the world . You meet people living vastly different lives, making you question if you wish to bring any changes to yours.

Travel to assimilate to culture.
Alter your base-point concept of “normal.”
What it will show you is how many behaviors/values/beliefs you’ve unconsciously adopted from your surroundings (and ways you can change them).

‘101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think’ by Brianna Wiest

Spend Quality Time

Some people might not love the idea of traveling. And that is fine. But at times, you simply travel for the people you love. My mother isn’t the biggest fan of travel- she is a homebody who loves her routines. But she never says no to a trip because it gives her the opportunity to spend some quality family time away from her day-to-day household chores. At times you travel to build better connections with the people you love through having shared experiences. There is something about exploring a new, unknown place together that brings people closer and builds deeper bonds.

Ignite Your Sense of Wonder

Lastly, travel is simply about appreciating the beauty of this world. It ignites a sense of wonder that can only be brought about by witnessing the landscapes this world has to offer. It rekindles your curiosity as you walk the lanes of cities, experience its food and culture, or know about the history of a place. A lot of the information you acquire might be of no direct benefit, but no knowledge is bad knowledge. Knowing about a place or a culture might help you connect better with a stranger you might meet later on in life. Trying a new cuisine might encourage you to expand your palette.

You may have your own reasoning for packing your bags and hopping on to a flight to somewhere new. But whatever that reason be, pack along the curiosity of an explorer, and the spirit of an adventurer. Go out there and witness for yourself all that the world has to offer. And hopefully, you will come back refreshed and energized.