The literal meaning of the term ‘wanderlust’ is “a strong desire to travel”. According to me, through travelling, one unlearns the conventional wisdom s/he has gained. It provides the individual with enriching experiences and an opportunity to explore new things as well as oneself.
Travel and experience:
Every individual is struggling hard in accomplishing the goals of their lives. These days the routinized behaviour of students in preparing for competitions and the corporates in their daily jobs has ensued in a monotonous lifestyle. My group members and I chose this topic in order to comprehend that learning is not only restricted to the stereotypical ways of understanding things but also adopting and familiarising to new experiences. Moreover, it intrigued me to know about the reasons people travel for. Is it only constrained to terms such as ‘enjoyment’, ‘pleasure’ or is it about learning as well? What do people experience? How do people explore themselves? Further, the researcher investigates that whether there are any social stigmas attached to travelling? What are the problems that people face while travelling?
It can be traced through early times that travelling was a necessity for hunters and gatherers in search for food, water, shelter etc. Later on, the purpose of travelling was concerned with trading, exchange of goods and to expand the economy or market of the nations. Much later with complexities in human lives, people began travelling for a reason. They wanted to explore themselves, expand their horizon and gain knowledge about different cultures. (Patricia, 2007) Hence, to address my inquisitiveness of ‘why is it imperative for individuals to explore while travelling’ my group members and I, decided to work on this topic.
Why traveling is important:
Articles states that during prehistoric time’s people travelled to fulfil their basic needs like food, water and wanted to interact with people (Murrieta Flores, 2007). With change in time, various other reasons emerged that changed the concept of travelling. Through the survey conducted, it was observed that participants travel because it makes a difference in their lives as they want to explore their own capabilities, desires, and want to know about the diversity in cultures.
Travelling gives an opportunity to people for self-introspection. One of the respondents answered that after coming back from a trip “I feel refreshed and contended. The feeling to know about a new place and culture is unmatchable.” It was also seen that something or the other changes in an individual as they become better than before. This transformation helps the participants to connect with themselves which makes them more confident, accountable to any situation and also helps them to see the world through a different lens.
There are certain problems that participants come across such as accommodation, adapting to new cultures but at the same time some felt they learn from experiences either good or bad while others didn’t want to tag them as ‘problems’ as it would make them gruesome.
Many of the participants feel that there are social stigmas attached to travelling like society consider it as not a feasible utilisation of time and money. Many of them felt that women travelling alone become a victim of social judgement.
Hindrances:
The problems that participants face helps in developing risk taking abilities , enhances their personality by making them self-confident, increases their self-esteem giving birth to an optimistic, affirmative as well as a constructive persona.
By and large, personal experiences are the best source of learning and attaining knowledge. I believe that one gains a lot by meeting new people, and gets insights of what is happening around the world. Therefore, trust yourself and take a step, stop thinking and start experiencing because “in the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take”.
REFERENCES:
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Arnett, J.J. (2000). Emerging Adulthood: A Theory of Development from the Late Teens through the Twenties, 55(5), 469-98
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Murietta Flores, P. (2010). Travelling In a Prehistoric Landscape: Exploring the Influences that Shaped Human Movements, 249-269