“The world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page” – Saint Augustine
As a society, we are taught that work is worship and is a core necessity to become self-sufficient and independent. We are told that money is the means to a happy and fulfilling life. We are taught that having a great career and earning a lot of money should be the most important goal in life. We are made to work for that career from the time we are kids. We are then given very few careers to choose from and forced to select one of them. We are made to do this while we are still too young and inexperienced in the ways of the world to know what we want. Before we know it, our lives are controlled by the clock and the monetary system that we as a society have created. However, it is a common sight for us to stop working for a living and start working just to survive. We give our careers more importance than we give ourselves.
A career is very important because it is the source of our livelihood. What most people tend to forget is that a career is just a means to a fulfilling life. It is a means to help you achieve what you want in life which is ultimately self-sufficiency. But a career it’s in no way an end in itself. In the end all that matters are your experiences because “life is the sum total of your experiences.”
Why Travel?
You may read a lot of books, watch documentaries and marvel at pictures and videos. However, immersing yourself in the experience is entirely different.
- Takes you to places you have never been before.
- Puts you in situations you have been in before.
- Introduces you to people you never knew existed.
- Introduces you to cultures you have never experienced.
- Introduces you to new food, music, art and culture.
- Introduces you to concepts you may have never dreamed about.
- Opens out avenues in life that you never even knew existed.
- Gives life a direction and a purpose.
- Turns you into a storyteller.
- Teaches you new skills.
- Makes you grow holistically.
- Makes you curious and is your ultimate teacher.
- Broadens your perspective in life.
- Helps you make the most out of your time.
So what about your career?
Taking time off to travel would most probably be the best decision of your life. The amount you learn about the world and yourself in a few months of travel would be a lot more than you have learned in all your years spent at office. Employers look for people who can add value to their business. They look for people with experience in life and those who can bring in new ideas and perspectives. People who have travelled have a lot more career advantages than those who have not.
Even if you do not immediately land yourself the job you hoped for, job opportunities will not shut you out. You will still have your remaining life to search for a job. You may also have the option of trying out a new career path with the skills that you have learned on your journeys. Travelling more often than not gives people ideas to start their own business. You may also likely make friends along the way who might offer you a job.
However, if you spend your younger days only working, you may not be as fit enough to travel once you retire. No employer and no amount of money can bring back lost time and age. The experience you get from travel is worth much more than money or your career. Travel is also very addictive but in a good way. Travel is taking a journey into oneself and is the ultimate investment people can make in their own selves.
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain.
