Travel Thoughts #1: Why to travel and leave things behind?steemCreated with Sketch.

in #travel6 years ago (edited)

Today I'd like to share an article which deals with the question: "Why to travel?". I received this thoughtful article from a girl from Wales, who now lives in Thailand. I hope you enjoy it!

Why to travel and leave things behind?

Chase your dreams!

Everyone has big dreams that they’re too scared to follow. It could be a dream job, starting your own business, achieving that family with your dream house. For me, it was to travel. But even though travelling is something that is done worldwide, for me -  a welsh valley girl from a small town where no-one went further than Spain - it was something that felt beyond reach. Like many people wanting to chase their dreams, I bounced back and forth through all the reasons why I should and shouldn’t travel. I was happy with my life. I had my dream job, my own house, a boyfriend, an amazing family and great friends and a comfortable lifestyle and income. But I was discontent. I felt like I didn’t belong in Wales. Some people spend their whole lives debating whether they should or shouldn’t travel. Other people have a ‘breakthrough’. A breakthrough is a point in your life which flicks on that switch that says ‘GO’. It happens in a matter of seconds and changes your whole life. My breakthrough was sitting with my grandmother who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She had a great life, but one regret. She didn’t travel. We would sit and talk about the countries she would’ve visited, what she would’ve done, the adventures she would’ve had... and she started to cry. It was too late for her. She looked at me with determination and she demanded that I get out there as soon as possible and see the world before I also get sucked into the pit hole of mundane routine and responsibilities.

Ignite the fire!

That was it. She ignited my fire. I quit my job, moved out of my house, sold my car and belongings, packed a bag and flew on a one way ticket to Thailand. Of course, I will riddled with fear and anxiety and I couldn’t quite untangle it from my excitement and happiness that I felt about finally putting myself first, despite my family’s doubts and disapproval to live my life the way I wanted to. I wanted more for myself and I felt like I was doing myself an injustice by not giving myself the gift of travel. I didn’t want to be having the same conversation with my grand children like my grandmother had with me.

Do it!

The experiences and adventures you get from travelling and living in different countries is not something you can buy or read about. It has to be lived. It has to touched, smelt, heard and witnessed. Travel will change you for the better. It will open your eyes to many possibilities and you’ll do things you’d never have dreamt of doing before. Life’s too short and you have to seize your opportunities now before it’s too late. Ask yourself, what’s holding you back? What’s stopping you? Everything will be waiting for you when/if you ever go back so you really don’t have anything to lose! Don’t let life just pass you by. Grab your opportunities and achieve the impossible!

Feedback appreciated!

  1. Why do you travel?
  2. Is leaving "your home" and living in another country a realistic option for you?
  3. What prevents you from chasing your dreams?


About @stefan.travels: I'm a passionate traveller and like to share my stories and thoughts to inspire others. So you'll find tips, pictures and thoughts about travelling to beautiful places on my account. If you like my posts, please leave an upvote or comment. If you don't like them, just do the same. ;-) Following attracts good karma as well... :-)

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Nice photos!

  1. i travel to learn new things about other cultures, to see the world and of course, to take some photos! :)
  2. YES YES YES, my girlfriend and i want to spend one or more years in another country. or maybe in a volkswagen transporter and travel europe!
  3. Money... we do not have the money for a good car, or instead to travel that much. Otherwise, at the moment we are bonded by our jobs :/

Thanks for your post! :)

@killyourhorizon Thanks for the answer. I totally agree with you on number two. Travelling with a transporter through Europe is very appealing and is a high ranked item on my bucket list. 🚍👍🏼

Mir fällt grad erst auf das du Stefan heißt und vermutlich Deutscher bist... :D

Genauso ist es. 😃

Nice article...😀

  1. I travel to enjoy this beautiful world, eat different delicious foods around the world, to see different culture, sometimes to get lost myself on a strange place and be grateful to be back at the hotel haha....

  2. Sure, i leaved my country (Indonesia) to travel to Europe since 13 years and i don't see when i come back there😀

  3. Nothing..! Okay we have a house in Germany, but we only stay home occasionally to take a short break before continue travel.

Let's traveling because it is fun😀😀😀

Thank you for your detailed comment.
13 years... 😲Sounds great!

Where do you live in Germany? I'm from Germany as well and live in the beautiful town of Hanover. 😉

Hannover...! i always underrated your city until my visit last spring there 😆... and i fascinated by this veeeery huge and modern unterirdische Stadt of Hannover.

I live at beautiful Nordsee, a village near Flensburg😊

Everybody should get out of their comfort zone called home and see the world....

beautiful story in a beautiful country

@makesushi Have you ever been to Thailand? 🇹🇭