Is Traveling Worth It? Wanderlust or Waste?

In today’s world, there is barely any time for leisure and fulfilling hobbies. Checking off that bucket list seems like a setback in this rushed life. Enjoyment is strictly restricted to sleeping after a long day of exhausting lectures, completing an assignment, or finishing a household chore. Now I understand the satisfaction we derive from these activities, but are we truly living life to the fullest? Exploring? Experiencing? No, I don’t think so.

Traveling helps us break this cycle. It helps us see what the world has to offer, why it’s important to get out of that bubble of life we have surrounded ourselves with, and explore the beauty, diversity, and culture of the people and places around us. However, like everything, traveling also has its disadvantages.

Firstly, traveling costs a fortune! One has to pay for every smallest thing, and it adds up to being a huge expense. Tourist attractions, hotels, the food, and the transport services all give your bank account a big shake.

Moreover, traveling is not always eco-friendly. Believing in and supporting sustainability and eco-friendly services is extremely important, especially in this world, which faces a constant threat from global warming and pollution. However, many trips tend to overlook these issues. These far-flung lands’ destinations all contribute greatly to the environmental degradation we see today.

Additionally, these countries may not be exactly how you perceive them to be. Most people hear one good thing about a country and hop on a plane for their next trip. For example, Venice is widely known for its beauty, but when people visit, they are left disappointed due to factors like overtourism, overpriced attractions (which are not as Pinterest-ey as they look), and environmental concerns such as pollution and flooding. If not this, it’s either the climate, the conditions, or the historical destinations.

There is good news, though. It’s possible to counter these disadvantages.

Traveling is an eye-opening experience. It shows us that life is not only restricted to your surroundings, i.e., that same old job, the same coffee place, or the same getaway place for a picnic on the weekend. There is a huge world at your doorstep, waiting for you to enter its embrace, inviting you to its experiences. Step out of your comfort zone. The fascinating things a traveler experiences are way beyond the reach of a couch potato.

This experience doesn’t only mean exploring historical landmarks or going to new places. It means discovering new cultures, learning new languages, seeing and experiencing the traditions, and understanding the people. When you see how the world has so much to offer, it is guaranteed that you will not stop exploring further ahead for more.

As for the problem of it being costly, you can start with travels around their homeland. One doesn't need to start directly with a trip to a foreign country. Additionally, records say that some people prefer having a tight budgeted trip as it teaches them efficiency and ways of saving. It shows them how survival is implemented and their personality is shaped into that of a better person!

Also, you know you only live once. Enjoy your life and let yourself be free. It is truly an educational, social, and fascinating experience. It shows you how the world is right in front of you, you just have to grasp it and let yourself wander throughout its surroundings. So, get up from that desk, book that trip you know you have been longing for, and see where the world takes you. You will surely not be disappointed.