Why everyone should travel

Embracing discomfort so we can comfort others

Laura Tyson
Jul 28, 2017 · 1 min read

I love to travel, but I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge the discomfort of exploring new places and meeting new people.

It takes emotional, mental, and physical energy (hello jet lag). Sometimes it’s embarrassing (i.e. mixing up critical words in a language I barely know, realizing I don’t have enough money in the correct currency to complete a purchase, etc.) or awkward (i.e. learning to greet people with a kiss on each cheek and stumbling over their lips).

But each new experience widens our perspective and increases our capacity for empathy. It allows us to step into someone else’s world and better understand their life.

Travel any chance you get. It might be a short road trip, a cross-country endeavor, or a globe-trotting adventure. Just go.

If this sounds daunting, take out a map and draw a circle around where you’ve traveled to date (it’s okay if it’s just the city or state where you live). Work on crossing that line. Then repeat.

Traveling doesn’t necessarily mean taking fancy vacations or spending loads of money. It’s about gaining invaluable perspective from new experiences so we can have greater empathy.

Adventure awaits. Where will you go next?

Empathy Entries

Stories and insights about empathy and how to cultivate it.

Laura Tyson

Written by

Teaching courageous empathy to change my corner of the world. Passionate believer and feminist who loves people, food, and travel.

Empathy Entries

Stories and insights about empathy and how to cultivate it.

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