Comments on: Why Travel Won’t Solve All Your Problems (and Why it’s Still Worth it)

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:47:04 +0000

Thanks Ryan!

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:45:22 +0000

Very thoughtful comment, thanks! Maybe travel can’t solve problems, but the problems it raises short term can lead to greater clarity in the long run.

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 22 May 2012 05:47:59 +0000

Yes, I do think that travel opens up a world of opportunities for introspection, but sometimes it raises more questions than it answers! I’m currently “dealing” with feelings of what I found to best jive with my idea of “home” in Hawaii, but when I returned to my home with my family in Chicago, I felt confused. My time away has brought force some fundamental questions about the life I led previous to traveling and gave me a unique perspective I might not have otherwise discovered. This of course opens a can of worms of questions. I know all the intentions are good, but sometimes wrestling with these philosophical discoveries about the variety of life out there and adapting to one so unlike your own can be difficult. Traveling is hard work. Going solo and abandoning fear, throwing caution to the wind and absorbing other ways of life takes patience, time and a strong will. Eventually, after time these life decisions and predicaments will start to make sense, and they are overall positive growths. But as we all know, growing can be confusing and painful.

Travel certainly won’t solve ALL your problems. Some of your old problems will become clearer and you might be able to come up with solutions. But suddenly you are presented with a whole new problem set you never anticipated. Luckily, most people who travel, especially solo, are equipped to manage these changes, whether they are drastic or not. But with the opening of perspective comes a slew of new, often unforeseen questions. It is my hope that over time, the most difficult or confusing realizations will become clear and the answers will manifest themselves positively in my future.

By: Ryan at Travel and Graphs

Ryan at Travel and Graphs — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:47:09 +0000

Though this post is years old now, the advice contained within seems like it will remain relevant for a good many years to come. Great job.

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:59:33 +0000

Travel is a tool, and it does make self improvement easier, but you have to be willing to do the work yourself!

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 09:52:46 +0000

Great post. I think this is one of the things I struggle with most when I go on vacation. The problems are still there when I get back. It’s nice to read about it objectively. Gives me some things to think about!

By: LeslieTravel

LeslieTravel — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 05:18:52 +0000

Great point! And I love the title- straightforward, eye catching and accurate.

By: Jeremy B

Jeremy B — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 05:17:58 +0000

An older post but a good one. I definitely agree with this. Travel is a part of who we are and as we travel, part of us emerges during that adventure. We see good and bad sides of us that we couldn’t see at home. Travel is well worth it but anyone not willing to examiner themselves should stay home. Travel is not an escape from reality – just a greater awareness of it.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:54:08 +0000

Great post, Steph, and so true. I had a lot of things on my plate before I left for Oz, and I knew I had to be conscious of that and not forget that I had stuff to work through/on when I got here. I’m happy that I can agree with the other posters who said that travel can often be good for that. It has given me room to reflect and grow.
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..On Having it All =-.

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By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:42:50 +0000

Travel can be physically, mentally and emotionally challenge and that does lead to self-growth for sure.

By: Lauren Quinn

Lauren Quinn — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:17:19 +0000

Like all have said: great post. Well-balanced. And I agree that travel has endowed me with a certain resiliency and self-reliance that I wouldn’t otherwise have–I know I’m capable of figuring difficult situations/languages/street maps out and getting through it. Some people do wilderness therapy to tap into these inner resources; I’ve done it through travel.

This Brave New Traveler post taps into some similar issues: http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/12/01/lost-and-found-when-travel-is-not-the-answer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20MatadorNetwork%20%28Matador%20Network%29
.-= Lauren Quinn´s last blog ..Hipsters Vs. Homeys: Oakland YouTube Travel Guides =-.

By: AdventureRob

AdventureRob — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:58:56 +0000

This post is spot on. However a bit of discipline and you can enhance your good traits and suppress the bad ones, but you'll always be there whatever you try or wherever you go. .-= AdventureRob´s last blog ..A Day in Luang Prabang =-.

By: Anil

Anil — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:41:17 +0000

I think it depends why you travel. I like the changing pace of working while getting to see different places. Travel has taught me that people are fundamentally the same and that if you’re searching for something by traveling you won’t find it. A good way to solve a problem is to look inward; and a good way to create one is to do the opposite.

By: Nora - The Professional Hobo

Nora - The Professional Hobo — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:17:14 +0000

Just yesterday a fellow traveler told me that he used to explore the world in search of something external, when he realized that the search was really an internal one. He continues to travel, but is acknowledges that his physical location has very little to do with his personal growth now.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:41:38 +0000

I love to travel and I think I learn something new about myself almost every time I go somewhere new (even if it’s just down the street).

I’m currently planning a BIG trip for next year. I’ve wanted to do it for a while (to escape Boston), but now that I’m actually planning it, I’m realizing how much I do actually enjoy my life as it is now. So I’m definitely excited to be travelling at a point in my life that I know I like who I am and where I’m going.
.-= Adam ´s last blog ..Birthdays as Deadlines not Holidays =-.

By: Adriana

Adriana — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:24:00 +0000

great post!!!
you are so right – we have to do the dirty mental work ourselves, but traveling brings out new things in ourselves, so it´s great to know how we deal out of our comfort zone. Plus – acquiring new culture never harms!!
.-= Adriana´s last blog ..green olive, black olive =-.

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:36:27 +0000

Interesting first hand experience. I guess if you are a jerk once place you are probably a jerk everywhere!

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:35:28 +0000

I think you have it exactly right. Whatever your personality issues or flaws, they aren’t going to magically disappear once you get one a plane. Self improvement begins at home.

By: Magnus

Magnus — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:52:05 +0000

I definitely believe traveling can change your life. But it got to be long term traveling. A week or two won’t do the trick. I would say 3 month as a minimum. The long journeys we made have had a life changing impact on our lives. Read more about it on our blog http://www.extendedworldtravel.com