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6 Ways Travelling Can Change Your Life

16/10/13 ᛫ 15 Comments

I suppose I’ve done a bit more traveling than your average Joe. My Dad is a keen traveller and had my mum, my sisters and I on all sorts of exotic long-haul holidays when we were kids. We would go to places like America and South East Asia for three weeks at a time hopping around from hotel to hotel.

The trips were always cultural, educational and adventurous and (much to my adolescent dismay) hardly ever involved lying on a beach. I have my Dad to thank for opening my eyes to the world of travel the enriching experiences that it can. All of this is what has inspired me to pursue a career that allows me to combine my two greatest loves; writing and travel. 

The Travelista

But whilst I am extremely fortunate to travel on a regular basis, what I have never done is go away ‘travelling’ for a long period of time on a multi stop trip. I’m talking plan an adventure, pack a rucksack, and fly into the sunset. I’ve never done it and I’ve got to admit, it’s one of those things I HAVE to do before I die. Here are a few reasons why I am holding on to my dream of going travelling, as I believe these are the ways travelling can change your life…

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My best friends Steph, Lauren and Becca during our trip to Thailand

1. You can be at the right place in the right time

There’s something so romantic about travelling. Nothing thrills me more than stepping into the unknown, waking up every day not knowing what is around the corner. For me, that is exactly why I love travelling. You never know who you are going to meet day to day. And every person you meet could open doors to an incredible opportunity. People you meet could be the stepping-stone into a dream job.

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Storms brewing on Koh Tao Island

 2. You can fall in love

Yes of course, there’s a chance you could fall in love with that ridiculously sexy Latino whilst partying at the Rio carnival, and let’s admit it, that sounds pretty fun. But I don’t just mean you can find love in a cliché holiday romance style. If you go travelling with your boyfriend / girlfriend, travel could make you fall in love even deeper and make a tighter bond through experiencing so much togehter. Similarly, leaving the person you love at home whilst you travel can also make you fall deeper in love. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. No matter how you look at it, travel = love.

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Trekking through the mountains of Chiang Mai, Thailand

3. You can become street wise

If it’s one thing that travel does, it makes you that little bit wiser, making you grow up and fend for yourself. For many, going travelling is the first time you’ll ever have to work out how to wash your clothes. It something goes wrong, you can’t just call Mummy and Daddy to wave a magic wand and sort it out. You automatically have an increased awareness about you that you acquire, and never loose. Lessons for life right there!

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Falling off a moped in Thailand when I was 19 certainly made me a little more streetwise

4. You learn appreciate the beauty of home comforts

When you’re away travelling for a long period of time, chances are you’ll find yourself in some rather questionable digs during your trip. And whilst you’ll love every minute of it, there will be no better feeling than when A. You spend an hour on the sofa watching crap TV B. When you make ‘a nice cup of tea’ and most importantly C. When your head hits the pillow of your very own bed.

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The diving boats coming into Koh Tao, Thailand

5. You make friends from all over the world

Travelling makes you realise just how small the world is. When I go away I love meeting people from different countries and asking them about about their lives and cultures (the journalist in me always comes out). Most of the times I’ve done this, it’s made me realise that everyone is the same around the world. We all want the same things from life: love, happiness, and success. And not only that, you create a web of contacts around the world that would probably more than happy to put you up if you’re ever in the area!

I met so many amazing people from lots of different nationalities during my trip to Thailand

I met so many amazing people from lots of different nationalities during my trip to Thailand

 6. You remember how to think

All those hours on buses, night trains, departure lounges, planes can add up. And there’s only so many times you can listen to your iTunes or play noughts and crosses with your travel buddy. It is this travel time which forces you to THINK. Think about home, think about life, think about the people you love, think about where you’re going next. Time to think is a luxury that most time-poor people lack. Never under the importance of down time.

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I got this mug when I ordered a tea in MBK shopping mall in Bangkok and it make me THINK

Has this post inspired you to travel? Can you relate to any of my ideas in some way? How else can travel change your life? Leave me a comment and let me know! I reply to each and every single one 🙂

Enjoyed this post? Check out lots more of my blogs about blogging and travel 🙂 Jess Follow my blog with Bloglovin

15 Comments

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Comments

  1. swoutyyjae says

    20th February 2014 at 4:26 am

    Reblogged this on .

    Reply
  2. Jaryd Krause (@Ausglobetrotter) says

    15th February 2014 at 1:26 pm

    Travel is the greatest education you could ever get, you learn more about not just what is important in the world but what is important in life. You learn that all the things people absorb and waste time and money on back at home is just ‘stuff’. I truly hope you can back it all up and join the long term travellers club. You won’t look back 🙂

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      18th February 2014 at 10:51 pm

      Hey Jaryd. So glad that you agree. Thanks for your comment!

      Jess

      Reply
  3. lruthnum says

    3rd February 2014 at 9:24 am

    Great post – I’ve just decided that this time next year I’m jacking in life and heading off on my travels for as long as I can afford – this list is all the reasons I simply cannot wait!

    Reply
  4. Mollie Bylett says

    15th January 2014 at 11:36 am

    I totally agree! So many people dont go travelling because ‘they have a partner’ etc, but it’s an unmissable experience, either go with them or love them even more when you get back!
    No regrets – thing is, people don’t realise how good it is until they go!
    🙂
    Mollie xoxo
    molliebylett.blogspot.co.uk

    Reply
  5. Jo says

    1st November 2013 at 11:40 pm

    Learning to think is definitely a lost art with our generation. We are always on phones or computers trying to entertain ourselves. Travelling is amazing at forcing you to recognize the world around you and therefore think about everything you experience. 🙂 Good post!

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      11th November 2013 at 5:13 pm

      Hi Jo

      Thanks for your kind comment. So glad you enjoyed my post and agree with my ideas. You are quite right about the lost art bit, that’s why I love travel! Hope you keep reading 🙂

      Jess x

      Reply
  6. Julie K. says

    25th October 2013 at 6:43 pm

    Everything you wrote is true. And what I like about it is that you wrote it from your heart. I know many people, many travellers but I have to tell, you are devoted one. Your dad did a great thing when he decided for you to see the world. Good luck!

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      27th October 2013 at 6:26 pm

      Hi Julie. Thanks for such a lovely message. I am glad my passion for travel comes through in my writing! Yes indeed, I will always be grateful to my Dad for that. Hope you keep reading 🙂

      Jess

      Reply
  7. Kaori says

    19th October 2013 at 6:10 pm

    If you ever wann hop on the Eurostar for a weekend in Brussels lemme know! 😀 xoxo

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      21st October 2013 at 9:24 am

      That’s so sweet Kaori, thanks. I would love to do this. If I ever get the chance to come over I will definitely let you know. Hope all is good with you! 🙂 x

      Reply
  8. Son and Sun says

    18th October 2013 at 11:04 pm

    Awesome post! I especially like the part about “time-poor people” not having as much time and the luxury of downtime. I can especially appreciate that since I am one. And thank you for the blog post inspiration!

    Ro.

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      21st October 2013 at 9:23 am

      Hi Ro. Thanks for your comment. Glad you found this post useful. Most people are time poor in someways these days but that’s what makes travel so much more special, it’s definitely a luxury ! Hope you keep reading for more blog inspiration 🙂

      Jess x

      Reply
  9. denimfish says

    17th October 2013 at 11:37 am

    All very true and it widens your horizons literally and figuraltively. You realise the world is not that big and everyone on it despite different cultures and lifestyle are all pretty much the same under the skin. Great post Jess 🙂

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      18th October 2013 at 7:31 am

      Quite right! Thanks for your comment 🙂

      Reply

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Jess is an an award-winning travel blogger based in Yorkshire, navigating the world as a new Mum to baby Theo. Blogging about adventures both local and global.

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Warm skin, 
Frizzy hair. 
Soul alight, 
Without a care. 

Tanned legs, 
After sun. 
Mind is calm, 
Just having fun.

A day of new experience, 
Has just taken place. 
You embrace the unfamiliar, 
And every new and friendly face. 

The sun begins to set, 
And tomorrow is unplanned. 
You sip on something cold,
Toes buried in the sand. 

Midas touch is on the horizon, 
Peace is in your heart. 
Surrounded by those you love,
This moment is a work of art. 

Something feels different, 
You've seen sunsets before. 
But all your sense are heightened, 
You feel it at your core. 

Over a year of loss and struggle, 
The entire world is healing. 
Simple, little, wild things, 
Now have so much meaning.

As the sun sets, 
You realise the magnitude.
All you’re feeling in this moment, 
Is a new found sense of gratitude. 💫
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⭐️1. The 5 Minute Journal - This book has been the greatest gift I have received in a long time. It has helped me to find gratitude in the smallest things, even when the world feels like its falling apart. I start my hour by filling out this journal. @fiveminutejournal 

⭐️2. Affirmations - I bought these beautiful affirmation cards from @lovaine_store on Etsy. Each morning I pick out a new affirmation and write it in my journal. Then I pluck another from my head. They're definitely teaching me to be kinder to myself and make me feel mentally stronger.

⭐️3. Mindfulness - After my journal I practice a guided meditation using the @calm app. 13 days in, I feel a lot more clarity. Tomorrow I’m also starting an 8 week mindfulness cognitive behavioural therapy course with @natalieenglander. I am a novice and I am excited to learn more.

Whilst we all feel like we have very little control over our lives right now, the one thing we CAN still control is our mindset. If you’re feeling frazzled and overwhelmed by the world right now, I really can’t recommend trying things enough ✨ 

What are you doing to look after your mental well-being right now? It’s brutal at the moment. Take care guys 💓
When your knee surgery gets cancelled AGAIN. If I When your knee surgery gets cancelled AGAIN. If I don’t laugh I’ll cry 😅 Another month on crutches for me. At least I got to see my boy experience snow for the first time today instead. Will keep being grateful for the small things ✨
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Still being on crutches after 7 weeks, I am stuck in a very frustrating situation. I am feeling low but trying to pick myself up and focus on the one thing I can control right now: my mindset. I still want to make Christmas special for our little boy despite the unwanted plot twist (shout out to my dad who is currently scouring supermarkets trying to piece together a Christmas food shop for us). 🙌🏼🥴

Merry Christmas guys. What a year. We can only try to make the very best of the cards we’ve been dealt. Stay safe and keep it little. See you all soon ✨🎄✨
⚡️FESTIVE NEWS FLASH ⚡️ 🌟You don’t n ⚡️FESTIVE NEWS FLASH ⚡️

🌟You don’t need matching family pyjamas to have a good Christmas.

🌟You don’t need to make a Christmas Eve Box to be a great parent.

⭐You don’t need expensive Christmas days out to make it magical.

🌟You don’t need to watch Christmas films in a tidy, ambient room.

🌟You don’t need a perfect, colour coordinated Christmas tree.

🌟You don’t need to overindulge if you don’t want to.

🌟You don’t need a sprawling mass of presents under the tree.

🌟You don’t need to cook everything featured on the Jamie Oliver Christmas special.

🌟Hell, you don’t even need to change out of that trusty loungewear set you’ve been wearing all year.

💓 Embrace the chaos and all the things that make your Christmas unique. Stop letting social media trick you into thinking you don’t have it all. Honey, you do 💓

Merry Christmas and thank you for following us this year, love from me and Theo 🎄✨

(Inspired by Bd Blogs)
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Photos by @korm87

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