Recently, I’ve been exploring the United States for a couple of months. Now that I’ve been home for almost a month and finally starting to get back into the swing of things, I realised how freaking much travelling gave me different views and awesome life experience that is super noteworthy. And it just gave me some reasons as to why everyone should travel.
Perspective
Travelling really gives you some perspective on what matters the most to you and what is not a big fucking deal. This is especially important if you’re in your twenties. What do you want to do with your life? Do you really need all those fancy clothes or should you save up your money to travel again? Do you want to buy a house or is it going to be a pain if you decide to move overseas? Do you want to stay in that job with decent money that you don’t really love? Should your time be put to better things? Do you want to keep training the same way? I feel like travelling answered all this and more for me and can only imagine what it would do for others.
Body Image
I put on five kilos and lost a fair amount of strength and fitness in two months. It could have been a lot worse, but I still felt rubbish. Halfway through the trip I realised, after being paranoid, that my weight gain really doesn’t matter at this point in time. People aren’t going to speak to me different or think less of me. Did I make less friends? Did I have less fun because I weighed a bit more? Nope. Was every bite of food, every cocktail and every breakfast shot (Jameson whiskey, butterscotch snaps chased with a mouthful of orange juice = pancakes in your mouth, you’re welcome) worth it? Yes, yes it absolutely was. Also – another tick for perspective on that whole body image thang.
Appreciation
For your home town/country. After being in the States – as much as I loved it, you miss home. You miss Australian customer service, people understanding every little syllable you say. Being able to walk down the street and say ‘How ya goin?’ To a random and they say ‘good mate’. Some places you do that in America and they’re like ‘dafuck do I know you?’ You learn to appreciate all the things you take for granted, even small things like the coaches at your gym, mums home cooked dinner and all of your best mates – no matter how many people you meet, no one knows you the way they do.
Realisation
Okay I don’t know what this really falls under, but I honestly had no idea how stressed I was pre-trip until about one month into travelling. I had so much on my plate: two jobs, training for power lifting, all that PCOS jazz and trying to plan a two month epic holiday. I came back and have tried my hardest not to get stressed about things and catching myself when I get worked up. Being outside of normal life made me realise I need to be more relaxed when I’m in it. You also realise how much more travelling you need to do because the world is huge and you’re having the best time ever.
Travelling seems to be the only time when everyone is (mostly) judgement free. You can talk to random people, wear whatever you want, look like shit and no one cares at all. No one thinks it’s weird to strike up a chat – not that I think it is weird! But the vast majority of people around here might look at you a little weird if you’re drunk in a bar by yourself in gym clothes talking to people. (Yeah that was me on more than one occasion because gym clothes fit when others don’t. Some might say I was “drinking in my active wear”.) Judgement free-ness is one of my fave parts of travelling, it’s hard to find that these days.
Relationships
If you travel with your partner it’ll really test your relationship. Can you be open and honest and feel totally comfortable with each other no matter what gross situation arises? Can you get along and live in each other’s pocket for two months straight and still like each other at the end of the day? Are you okay with your partner talking to all kinds of random girls/guys? If you can’t do this it’s probably time to re-evaluate your situation. All these questions had a huge yes for me at the end of our trip.
We had one proper argument (in two months, kudos to us) and had the greatest trip of a lifetime and realised a lot about our relationship along the way, good and bad. It was an awesome learning curve no matter what happens in the future. Hot tip for any couples planning a long ass holiday together: get yourselves a code word or some kind of action that equals no more fighting and you better get over whatever the fuck you’re angry at. Whenever one of you say said the code word/action, the argument is over and never spoken about again. You are welcome.
Friends
Last but far from least – you make some awesome amazing mates along the way! It’s a given, but at the same time don’t take it for granted. What’s better than staying with a friend in London who you met a year ago on Contiki in Berlin?
In conclusion – have you booked a plane ticket yet? Me either but I’m already thinking about it.
