2020 was rough, and that’s putting it mildly. And no doubt it was made tougher by the fact that we couldn’t run away from your problems. Usually, we can hope on a plane and forget about life for a moment. But COVID put a stop to that real quick.
I know, I know… Not being able to go on holiday sounds like the epitome of first-world problems. So you didn’t get to lie on a beach for two-weeks. So what? But let me have a moan for a minute… The reality is that travelling is so much more than a frolic in the sand. Yes, it’s that, too, but it also has a huge impacts on our lives.
So here’s four reasons why I really missed heading overseas in 2020.
A sense of accomplishment
Not everyone gets to break into their dream industry straight out of university. For some people, the road is a lot longer and a lot bumpier. Even worse, the dawn of social media means it’s hard to avoid the idea that you’re a failure since you can see everyone else crushing it. Travelling, then, is an accomplishment. It’s a skill you can add to your CV while ticking activities off your bucket list. You learn a lot on your travels, but the main thing is that there are tonnes of different challenges in life.
Our self-esteem
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You’d think that because everyone has different tastes, this would mean that beauty is objective. However, some people feel the need to change their appearance due to considerable self-esteem issues. And, it’s easy to see why when prices for cosmetic surgery abroad are much lower and the quality is very high. Alternatively, you might love the sensation of acceptance you get when you speak and interact with like-minded travellers. Either way, backpacking can alter your perspective and make you more comfortable in your body.
Love
It wouldn’t be an S&LC post without talking about sex! As you know, an active sex life is a massive part of a happy and healthy life, yet yours might be stale at home. Maybe the guys and girls don’t excite you, or perhaps you think their outlook on life is boring. This isn’t the same when you travel due to the sheer number of people you meet. Although percentages aren’t romantic, the odds are in your favour because you’ll come across people who stimulate you in multiple ways.
Learning new things
All of the above have something in common – they are learning curves. Whether you’re head over heels or figuring out how to manage your thoughts and feelings, travellers understand so much more after an adventure. After all, there are a lot of foreign concepts that you need to comprehend quickly, or else you could be disrespectful to the locals. Some people go as far as actively learning a new skill by working. You might think it’s only for the good of your bank balance, yet you will be surprised by how much it will help you when you return home. If you return home!
Hopefully 2021 is the year the world starts to open back up again.
