If you happen to be friends with frequent travellers or are a traveller yourself, then you must have picked up on the fact that, while essentially, the traveller in question is still the same, there’s something different about them after each new journey is undertaken.

There’s a new sparkle in their eyes, a lilt in their voice, and an infectious enthusiasm that is exuded, making them seem more interesting, alluring, and exciting than your average Joe is (well, up until their tale is told to you for the umpteenth time, because yes, even travel stories have a limit). Have you ever wondered why this happens? Well it is, in essence, because travel does change each individual who sets off on adventures:

Enrichment

Travellers have an insatiable longing to experience more from life – and many of them phrase this by saying they’ve been bitten by the elusive travel bug. They dream of new horizons, new foods, new adventures, and experiencing a different way of life by literally stepping into a different environment.

These above experiences are something that all the security of 9 – 5 jobs just can’t fill because they crave the unknown and exotic, and they seek to immerse themselves in a new way of life. Once they’ve visited a new place, they feel enriched in a way that is impossible to pin down, apart from the obvious fact that their mind-set has shifted, and they’ve gained a new outlook on the world. The best kind of travel is not to pass through a place, but to embrace experiential travel.

These kind of travellers start feeling connected to those around them, and it is by breathing, eating, exploring, touching, and living in a new place that travellers realise how much richer their lives have grown since they embarked on their first voyage (despite their bank balance drop).

Education

Most travellers are fairly well educated – and though this may, in part, be due to great schooling, the rest of it is from researching, and then living and experiencing cultures and customs first-hand. They know not to expose too much skin at religious sites, even if they’re in a tropical location, and would rather stick to the path when 4x4ing in the desert, as they’ve learnt about the fragile ecosystem they could destroy by senselessly going off the path just for the hell of it. They have a much better understanding of topography, geography, sociology, and politics when experiencing these things first hand, as opposed to just reading about them, or seeing a video of them.

Travellers themselves are bettered by travel, because they get to observe humanities infinite kindness (or cruelty) on a daily basis. Many better themselves by learning a new language, or finding new, hidden strengths within themselves when challenging situations arise, (such as unexpected flooding, and then assisting with rebuilding, a community).

By living what others read about, their education from first-hand travel is always fresh in their mind, and they gain a better world perspective, by having individuals that they meet, and cultures that they visit, shape their new outlook on the world.

Enjoyment

Let’s face it, most of us have experienced that happy holiday glow – when the days go on forever, you are master of your time, and everything in life suddenly seems right – so much so that you wish you could hold onto those momenta forever! And that, my friend, is enjoyment in its purest form, which travellers tap into on an almost daily basis. It can be as simple as appreciating the little things in life, such as eating a traditional gelato in Italy, sitting on a beach watching the waves, or seeing a sincere smile light up a child’s face when an errant soccer ball is returned to them.

However, long lasting enjoyment, accomplishment, and satisfaction for travellers usually results directly from exertion and overcoming obstacles, like hiking for hours in the sticky heat to reach the ancient city of Machu Picchu you’ve dreamt of since childhood, or spending an entire day on a safari, only to spot the Big 5 animal you’ve been dying to see, just after you’ve given up hope. These kinds of experiences give you back that childlike sense of wonder and appreciation for life; you’ve finally accomplished what you previously thought was impossible!

Of course, there are also the not so enjoyable parts of travel – the endless waits at airports, sitting in the blazing sun waiting to enter a monument when you’ve got a cold, or getting lost in a strange city. Though the above are definitely irritating, they allow travellers to better appreciate the amazing things that are experienced afterwards, such as anticipation when the flight leaves, seeing beauty within the monument, and the chance to make new friends when asking for directions.

How this all adds up

Many travellers start journals or blogs to capture these ethereal, whimsical feelings they’ve experienced, and to allow others to read about what they’ve done, and why it was incredible for them. Travellers, more often than not, actively encourage others to step out of their comfort zones to experience the true enjoyment of being alive, and trying new things.

So start reading travel blogs and see the world through fresh, excited eyes. At the end of the day, travel pushes you past your self-imposed limits, to achieve goals that were previously assumed impossible. This is exactly why travellers find it truly satisfying to recount their stories to others, and be a living example to the fact that it is very, very possible to change the improbable, to the done.

Now it’s your turn to let us know how you’ve found yourself changed by your travels!

Main image courtesy of 愛鸚斯坦 (Flickr)