Or, How Going to a Random Place Can Make You Feel More Like “You”
We’ve all heard the saying, “Travel broadens the mind,” but have you ever thought about how travel can broaden your connection to yourself? Yeah, sounds a bit deep, but stick with me. The truth is, hopping on a plane (or taking a road trip, or even just a weekend getaway) doesn’t just expose you to new cultures, foods, and ways of life – it also has this weird, magical way of connecting you to your own history.
Travel isn’t just about Instagram photos and sightseeing (although, no shame, we all love a good sunset shot). It’s about the way new places can make you reflect on where you come from, the stories that shaped your past, and the little things that remind you of your roots.
You Might Find Your Roots in the Most Unexpected Places
Ever visited a town and thought, “Hey, this feels oddly familiar”? It could be the architecture, the way people talk, or maybe the vibe of a place that just clicks with you. Sometimes, travel puts you in the exact spot where you find a deeper connection to your family history. Maybe it’s the small town your great-grandparents hailed from or a city where your ancestors worked, lived, and thrived.
You might not know it at the time, but as you wander through a cobblestone street or sip coffee in a quirky café, there’s a chance you’re standing where a piece of your past once existed. And that realization? It’s cool. It makes you pause and say, “Oh hey, I belong here, in some way.”
Travel Reminds You of the Stories You’ve Heard Your Whole Life
Think about all the times you sat around a dinner table and heard your parents or grandparents tell stories of “the old country” or “when we were young…” If you’ve ever wondered how true those stories were, sometimes a trip to that exact place can give you the answers.
Let’s say your grandmother used to talk about how she walked five miles to school uphill both ways (classic grandma move, right?). If you ever make a trip to the countryside where she grew up, you might be surprised to discover that it wasn’t just her exaggerating. Yep, five miles uphill. And yes, she did have to walk through snow in the middle of a blizzard – and you’re just now starting to understand why she was so tough.
New Places = A Fresh Perspective on Your Own Culture
Here’s a fun one: Sometimes traveling to a different culture can make you appreciate your own. We get so wrapped up in the little annoyances of daily life that we forget what’s unique and special about where we come from.
Let’s say you’re in a far-flung country, and you can’t figure out the local transportation system. Maybe you’re trying to order food, and no one speaks English. Maybe you’re just feeling lost in a sea of unfamiliar customs. Suddenly, you find yourself missing the ways back home (who else craves a cheeseburger on the return to the states) – whether it’s your go-to takeout spot, the friendly barista who knows your coffee order by heart, or just the ease of knowing how things work in your neck of the woods.
It’s in these moments that we start to see our own culture in a new light, appreciating the little things that make us who we are. You might even bring a little piece of that travel experience back home with you and incorporate it into your daily life.
Travel Gives You the Space to Reflect
There’s something about being away from your routine that clears your head. Whether you’re chilling on a beach in Bali or hiking through the Scottish Highlands, travel gives you the space to think about where you come from and who you are. The best part? When you’re in a new place, you can do it without distractions.
Maybe you’ve been toying with the idea of learning more about your family history or uncovering stories from your past that were never fully told. Traveling allows you to explore these questions without the usual clutter of your day-to-day life. You might find yourself at a museum, historical site, or local library, uncovering bits and pieces that link your personal story to the larger tapestry of history.
You Start to See Yourself as Part of a Bigger Story
There’s something incredibly grounding about visiting a place where history feels alive – whether that’s standing on the Great Wall of China or walking the streets of a city that’s been around for centuries. It’s like looking up at the stars and realizing how small you are in the grand scheme of things, but also understanding how you fit into the story.
When you’re traveling, you start to realize that the events, people, and places of the past have shaped who you are today. Every place has its own history, but so do you. And it’s wild how a random trip to a new place can make you reflect on the long, winding journey of your own story.
Travel has this funny way of revealing parts of yourself that you didn’t even know existed – memories, connections, and stories that are waiting to be uncovered. And sometimes, the best way to understand your own history is to step outside of your usual world and see it from a different perspective.
It’s not just about the places you visit – it’s about the version of yourself that shows up when you get there.
