What Travel Means to Me...

What does travel mean to me?

Well, it means many things to me. It provides me with a sense of adventure. Kind of like living life for a little while on "over drive"...senses are heightened and I see the world in a different light. Stepping outside of my everyday life and experiencing something different, exciting and sometimes exotic. It's about seeing other parts of the world and meeting people from different cultures who may do the same everyday things I do at home, but in their own way, different then mine. And that intrigues me.

It's about sometimes getting outside my own comfort zone and doing things I wouldn't normally do at home...how about climbing to the top of huge suspension bridge on the other side of the world? Or crossing over a tiny rope bridge to a minuscule island where the grass is so green you think you are looking at an emerald. Or sailing down a coastline on water so blue you think sapphires are sparkling back at you and looking up to the land and seeing enormous mountains crashing into the sea.

Travel also helps me to remember how fortunate I am. How I am able to provide for myself and create opportunities where I can see the world, which many people will never have the chance to see or do.

Travel gives me joyful memories I will have for the rest of my life, more joy then a new electronic device or posh new fashion wardrobe. The tangle things are nice, but in 40 years will I really care that I had an iPod nano or will my memories of a month in Eastern Europe or a week in Rome at Christmas be what's really memorable? I heard somewhere a study was done to gauge the happiness of people who spent their money on tangible items such as purchasing expensive cars, as compared to people who spent their money on travel. Guess who was reported to be happier people...you guessed it...the people who traveled. Because once the newness of the tangible items wears off, the buyer wasn't happy anymore, but the people who traveled had the benefit of a lifetime of wonderful memories...it makes sense to me!