Around 11 percent of Americans changed residences between 2007-2008, and in general about half of the Midwest have never lived outside of their hometown. Growing up in a suburb of Canton, Ohio, I’ve seen and met many people who see no reason to ever leave their cable television and Netflix-filled living rooms for more than a mandatory one-week vacation.
So silly.
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Travel is a big part of my passions and dreams, so I’ll admit I’m kinda biased on this subject, but hey, this is my article. If you want to read a sappy article about #goals and feel pity about your love life, head over to your nearest Buzzfeed-type blog.
Here are three reasons to shut off your LED flat screen and leave a sappy, very self-focused Facebook status about traveling.
1. You realize that you're not as important as you think you are.
When you move to a place where no one knew you had previously existed, or even that you currently exist, it humbles you. All this time complaining about your ex on Twitter, the way the barista said your name at Starbucks and how you’re really thinking of starting that small business is wasted on people who don’t know your name.
On the plus side, you do get a fresh start, especially if you come from a small town where everyone kinda knows each other, but awkwardly don’t acknowledge each other (myself included).
You also see that the world is paradoxically the smallest big place in the universe. Where you can go to alien world where everything is different, and yet everyone knows of great restaurants and mini golf courses that can’t be resisted.
2. You can’t realize how much your parents did for you (or didn’t do for you) as a child.
Traveling around, there were many lessons that I’ve learned and addressed in previous articles, but the subconscious lessons from mom and dad still haunt me (remember the underwear story?)
I learned that even little things like turning off all the lights in a room keeps the bills down, that cooking is actually more difficult than it looks, and that not everyone thinks everything I do is awesome.
No parent is perfect, but I’m thankful for the fact they taught me to appreciate the little things, and after a healthy time away from them, I learned to appreciate them as well.
And if your parents were not good, I’m truly sorry. Hopefully by getting out, you’ll be able to redefine the distorted truths they left behind and you’ll find someone who becomes somewhat of a surrogate father or mother to you. I found mine, and it's been healing in so many ways.
3. You can prepare for real adulthood.
I’ve had friends over the years that their families did everything for them, and I mean everything! These friends grew up into a reality that they could not possibly be prepared for. They were unable to cope with change and the truth of the first two points. Which is conveniently why I wrote them (Insert explosion emoji here.)
Even simply moving for college/internships teaches you basic adult concepts such as money management, independence and real life consequences, but the move itself teaches you to become adaptable and embrace change. Such as the time I moved out of the country and and broke my precious iPhone!
I’ve met a few people who had spent all of their lives in the same town, and they tend to be fairly static characters. They don’t like change. They don’t like new. They don’t like you. True adulthood calls us to be able to share our lives with others and rid ourselves of selfishness. You can’t do that if you never you leave your fortress.
And just to be safe, don’t be a hipster around them.
