Why I Travel, Often And Obsessively

There's a section of people in the world with the rodomontade thinking that nothing can ever go wrong in their lives - then there are those who are are constantly battling the fear that their next assailant is just around the corner. I definitely fell in the former for 25 out of my 26 years of existence.

See, I have been for most of my life, what some people would call - blessed. So much so that I almost thought that DJ Khaled started the #blessup trend for me. No, really. Social media has a way of getting to your head. Which is why when things went slightly wrong, I felt like a complete trainwreck. This is where and why travel stepped in.

Away from the hustle and bustle of your own city and far away from the comfort of your own bed, even the chirping of the little birds on Twitter, somehow, doesn't get to your head.

I have been fortunate enough to travel far and wide, and here are a few things I've learned, gained and come to appreciate along the way.

1. Perspective

For as long as I can remember, travel is the one thing I seek when I'm feeling bogged down in life. "What's this obsession with travelling?" my mom often asks me. I never have a definite answer to give her. What I can say, though, is that each place I visit allows me to discover a little bit more about myself. It allows me to discover a part of myself I didn't know existed. Every place I visit leaves a little bit of itself with me. Through the people that I meet, through the food that I eat, through every book I read sitting at the airport waiting for my next flight, through every movie I watch on the plane - I grow and I learn. I learn about the different ways of life, the different world outside of my own - and in that I understand so much more than I ever can just sitting on a chair from 9 to 5, daily. It opens up new parts of my mind every time and let's me look at things with a new perspective.

2. Peace of mind

Travel is my therapy. It's not an escape, because if there's anything I've learned in life yet, it's that there's just no escaping your emotions. You've just got to deal with whatever it is you're dealing with. Travelling, however, helps me wash away my stresses and pains more than any medicines ever can. This is the truth. It's not just the new place and people that open your mind and refresh your soul, it's being able to truly be yourself without the external pressures of your everyday world that really sets your mind free and helps you feel at peace. Sit with yourself at a nice cafe, reading a good book or just observing people; you'll be surprised how much calmness it can bring.

3. A sense of purpose

All that time away, just wandering streets in a new city, eating new food, meeting new people from different cultural and professional backgrounds has a way of instilling a sense of purpose within you. Looking at the different ways in which people live their lives helps you understand what you want from life better - and makes execution just that much easier once you're back to reality. In my experience, travel can help you gain vision like nothing else.