3 Life Lessons Learned From Traveling Overseas
It’s true that traveling challenges us with teachable moments, and it’s our duty to understand what the are trying to show us in the moment. Many people travel to see the sights, but there is so much depth to traveling that can be overlooked. Just like any new experience in life - travel has its ups and downs but that’s part of the experience as a whole.
We have to look at both sides of the coin to cash in on the opportunity. That’s the beauty of travel - it’s raw and the challenges that you face are intentional to teach you lessons about another culture and about your own.
Travel cultivates personal growth and discovery. When traveling and living overseas, you’re bound to come up with your own list of useful takeaways. Here are a few general lessons that can result from going abroad:
Pack light (literally and figuratively)
On the surface, packing light is regarded with baggage and belongings. While this is clearly important when traveling, not everything needs to revolve around your outfits of choice.
Packing light, in a figurative sense, is the idea to live simply, openly, and mindfully. Don’t overthink too much during your time overseas and allow yourself to go with the flow.
Be present & In The moment
Don’t let your schedule or plans to get in the way of living in the moment! Take a few minutes to breathe and embrace what’s in front of you when traveling, it’s amazing how much peace you can get from taking in your surroundings.
Take the extra time to interact with the local culture of a country, gain insight, and fully appreciate it for what it is, rather than what social media depicts it to be.
Go toward it & go for it
Do you have a bucket list, or an idea of activities you’d like to try? All of those ideas that you’ve thought about are actually possible!
YOLO (“You only live once”) gets a bad reputation because it has become a cliche for making impulsive decisions with disregard for consequences. However, the essence of its understanding that we have a limited amount of time for us to take advantage of opportunities shouldn’t be overlooked or understated. When we’re presented with a spontaneous decision, we just have to walk into the moment with our eyes open and our heart filled realizing that we might not have another chance to go for it.
Everyone could benefit from a few moments of YOLO when traveling with the right mindset. Travel should be fun, but it should challenge us to put ourselves in positions to not stay idle and comfortable as we look out the window and watch our days and our weeks fly by. These exhilarating moments open us up to trying new connections with people and places in an unfamiliar territory.
We’re at our best when we turn our curiosity into discovery. Wherever you end up exploring, you will learn, see, and discover new things. Travel is a learning opportunity, and new perspectives can come in abundance.
Just like in our daily lives, experiences and interactions can teach us something new. Everything can be considered a teachable moment, and travel gives you the chance to broaden and return home with an altered mindset on life. Read our past blog, Five Tips for Diving Deep Into a New Culture, for helpful advice on embracing unfamiliar cultures!