Imagine you grew up in a small town and you never traveled farther than a couple of hours away. Your world has only a few hundred-mile radii, but that is all you know. Everyone knows everyone, there’s a Christian church on every corner, and only one Chinese restaurant can be found within miles of the city limits. You only know the traditions your parents taught you as you grew up. You know the world is bigger than what surrounds you, but it seems strange, frightening, and foreign.
That is where travel comes in. Imagine you grew up in rural Arkansas, but then you take a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. On your trip, you will see new skin colors, hear new languages, and smell new smells. Imagine you grew up on a ranch in Montana, but then you take a trip to Tokyo, Japan. You encounter new religions, taste new foods, and discover different cultures. Suddenly the world has grown bigger than what you could have ever imagined.
Traveling is exhilarating! As you adventure across different landscapes, see new monuments, and eat new delicious food, you grow as a person. However, the real benefit is the knowledge you can gain from the rest of the world. Every new interaction with another person teaches you to be more accepting. New things can no longer seem strange, just different than what you grew up with. When you travel, your world grows bigger and you become an open-minded, kind-hearted person. So what are you waiting for? Stop being scared, jump in with two feet, and take your future into your own hands. Go travel to the place you have always dreamed of. Don’t let your dream die away; live them.
