Gaining Perspective Through Travel

Kaitlin Listro
Sep 5, 2018 · 2 min read

When you become stuck in the same surroundings for most of your existence, it’s hard to appreciate life and what you have. Traveling can be a considerable eye-opener no matter where you wander to. In a world full of constant contact, social media, and growing technology, the world can seem a lot smaller. Getting out and exploring what the world has to offer, can expand your horizons in ways you couldn’t think possible.

Educate yourself
A great way to learn more about the place you have traveled to is by exploring. Getting out of your resort or hotel room to visit cultural buildings, try new cuisine, and take in everything the place has to offer. Learning historical and cultural norms will broaden your horizons and open your eyes to how other countries, cities, etc. operate.

Step out of your comfort zone
Especially when traveling to other countries, it’s best to immerse yourself in their culture and life. This can be frightening, primarily when you are used to knowing everything the foods you love contain, where things are in your town and the language spoken everywhere around you. This creates a vast learning experience and the chance to educate yourself by stepping out of your culture norm and natural surroundings.

Become adaptable
When you take the time to step out of your comfort zone, you have to learn how to adapt to your surroundings. If you are looking to become an avid traveler, this is something you will become accustomed to over time. A large part of adaptation will consist of the cultural cuisine, whether you are traveling from the northern US states to the south or another country altogether.

Traveling can create an open mind and an open heart. When people are engaged in a different environment than they are used to, it can influence the way they see their own life and the person they were raised to be. Encountering new experiences shine a light on the big picture and take you out of the everyday nuances people can dwell on.

Gaining global perspective by traveling, will help open your eyes to much more than you will ever find in the comforts of those four walls you live in. If only it were a requirement for everyone in the world to go out and see new experiences in different parts of the world, it could change ideas, misconceptions, and prejudices we have towards one another. Helping to create a better world full of acceptance and hope for the future of humanity.


Originally published at kaitlinlistro.net on September 5, 2018.

Written by

Kaitlin graduated from PSU with a B.S in Supply Chain and Information Systems. She takes pride in volunteering in her community. Learn more: Kaitlinlistro.org

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