The unexpected benefits of travel

The “Ordinary” Benefits of Travel

In this article, I want to focus on the unexpected benefits of travel. But first, a quick recap of the ordinary benefits of travel. 

During my travels, I discovered a classic book that summed up the benefits of travel, even though it was written way back in 1869. The book is called “The Innocents Abroad” by the great American author Mark Twain. He said: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” 

I think that Twain’s reason to travel alone is enough, but of course, there are many more reasons. Purposeful travel is like a vacation on steroids. You’ll get all the beautiful views, beaches, food and culture, but you also get a lot more than you can imagine and, maybe, a lot more than you bargained for. 

The Unexpected Benefits of Travel

I think each of these ideas would make nice chapters of a book, but since I am overflowing with ideas, and you are probably short on time, here are some power-packed summaries. In no particular order, here are some of my favorite unexpected takeaways. 

Surprises

Waiting for the next surprise (unexpected benefit) is a reward. In other words, being surprised is great; knowing you will get more surprises is even better. Many years later, I am still being surprised by the lessons I learned on the road.  

Life “lessens”

Since life isn’t as much of a school as it is a playground, let’s call these life lessens, meaning things that lessen life’s burdens. Travel is full of moments that test your character and help you grow. You will learn a lot of lessens that you can get nowhere else. The unexpected benefit is more about which lessens life will give you and which lessens you will actually learn. For me, the list is very long. Two of my top lessens were learning that we, humans, are more alike than different, and that we are fundamentally good. That might sound unsurprising to the point of being cliché. I heard it a thousand times myself, but I never understood it until I traveled. 

Travel pays dividends

The life lessons are invaluable, but what I love most about my travels is how they continue paying me back. I made a big investment in time and money, and took a huge risk, so I’m glad to report that my efforts continue to pay dividends. The dividends are the realizations of how both myself and the world work that I continue to have. For example, I had some tough days that made quitting seem like a good idea. But the experience of riding through sugar cane fields and even taking a few swings at the sugar cane with a machete gives me an appreciation for sugar and where it came from, how it is made, and even how it tastes. The same is true of coffee, milk and eggs. So, you can imagine how much more meaningful my breakfasts have become. 

Enjoying the moment

One odd thing that happened is that my sense of time changed. For four years, I averaged about 1.5 nights in any one spot. And during the days, I traveled through a dozen villages. What happened was that the places I visited and the people who lived there were frozen in time. My grandma was fond of saying she didn’t like letting grass grow under her feet. For four years, I never saw grass grow. I never saw the cycle of the seasons, babies being born, or people growing old. I wasn’t aware of this until I returned home to Wisconsin. I thought I would be bored silly. But, riding my bicycle down the Glacial Drumlin Trail most every day for a year, I was amazed at how it changed every day and how different kinds of flowers and animals took turns throughout the season. (This realization became the afterword of the anniversary edition of Falling Uphill.)

Memories

What is a successful life? You might think money is the answer. Or, maybe you prefer leaving a legacy, like a business, a book or a child. Those may be successes, but all you have left when you are lying on your deathbed are your memories. Memories are the things you have experienced that make you who you are. I believe experiences are the fundamental product of your life. That perspective actually makes me value even the “bad” experiences. Granted, some can be terrible, but if I live to tell the story, it’s a good one. Pro tip #1: Record your experiences before you forget. Make more pictures and journal entries than you think you will need. Pro tip # 2: Even if you forget, the experience will still become part of who you are. That’s how the brain works; it integrates experiences and throws away the fluff. 

Emotions

Along with memories come emotions. Infinite varieties of emotions. We all crave the full spectrum of emotions. This is why we watch horror movies and ride roller coasters. But, rather than be a passive participant, why not go out and make your own!? 

Inspiring people

Meeting amazing people while you travel is a huge benefit. I was inspired by the people I met. And I am genuinely surprised and honored to have inspired so many people—or so they tell me. Not only did I inspire people on the road, but also back home. Some quit their jobs to travel, and some quit traveling to get a job. One of my favorite stories is meeting an 88-year-old woman who loved my adventure so much that she booked a solo flight to Bhutan. And another is about how I inspired Tom to ride a bicycle through Africa, and Tom went on to inspire hundreds more. When people I help follow their dream, I feel like I get to go along for the ride. And I love to imagine that those I inspired will pay their inspiration forward to many more people. 

Realizing you are bigger than yourself

When I first began traveling, I just wanted to learn about the people and places I went. I got annoyed by people asking me the same old question every day. It took me a long time to realize that the people I met were also on their own adventures. Even though my life seemed ordinary to me (cycling day after day can be drudgery), it was very inspirational to them. Many had never met a foreigner. These were also the people who made my trip possible. They were the ones who built the roads I traveled, fed me, and housed me. I couldn’t be me without them, and they couldn’t be them without me. I recommend you look up the word “ubuntu” to learn more. 

Credentials

Having a credential like riding a bicycle around the world is like having a master’s degree in life. It’s a valuable thing to put on your resume. I’ve gotten jobs because of it. And I was honored to be a cultural Ambassador for the US Department of State because of it. You don’t have to do something as momentous as I did; any travel credits will look good on your resume.  

Making a difference

This is a loaded phrase because it implies your way of doing things is better than another person’s way of doing things. Missionaries often go awry in this way. That being said, I think we all want to influence the world we live in. We set goals, and we want to see them realized. My trip around the world was a lot like being a gardener; everywhere I went and everyone I met was a chance to plant a seed. Now, I get to stand back and watch my garden flourish. A literal example of this was visiting the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico and, recently, a vital migration layover in Canada. (See picture above.) This is the most amazing migration on the planet, spanning generations. It is also endangered. So, I now have my own monarch butterfly garden. I estimate I have had 100 new butterflies born in my garden. Plus, I have helped feed thousands more. 

Becoming a different person

I am a different person. Literally! Down to every molecule except maybe my teeth. And, even who I am, is a whole new mesh of thoughts and beliefs. This is because, like the previous example, every place I went and everyone I met also planted a seed in me. 

Now it’s your turn

That was just a sprinkle of some of my favorite unexpected benefits. Perhaps it helps you see the world a little differently. And, no doubt, you will find a whole new set of unexpected benefits once you get out on the road. I’d love to hear your favorite unexpected benefits of travel in the comments below. If you don’t have any, I recommend you plan an adventure.