Travel is not a hobby. It is a way of seeing the world—with wonder, with humility, and with hunger for meaning
Travel teaches us that life is not measured in square feet or bank balances, but in moments lived, connections made, and growth embraced.
By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness…” — Mark Twain
In a world obsessed with speed, accumulation, and status, one of the most transformative forms of growth remains humble, ancient, and deeply human: traveling. Whether it is a quiet walk through a neighboring village, a train ride across the country, or a solo backpacking trip across continents, travel invites us to pause, open up, and see the world—and ourselves—anew. But in an age where savings accounts are prioritized over sunsets, and wealth is hoarded for a distant “someday,” we must ask: What does travel truly mean? And what are we losing by not embracing it more fully?
What Is Traveling, Really?
The conventional definition of travel might lead one to think of airports, passports, and distant countries. But traveling isn’t only about covering long distances. It’s about exposure to people, places, and perspectives beyond our daily routine. A journey can be a trek to a mountaintop, a weekend in a nearby town, or even a walk through an unfamiliar neighborhood in your own city.
Travel means movement with intention. It’s the act of leaving comfort to discover contrast. It is the openness to unfamiliar faces, foreign languages, new smells, altered routines, and strange cuisines. Whether far or near, it’s the journey’s impact on the mind, body, and soul that defines it, not the kilometers crossed.
Why Do We Travel—or Avoid It?
Despite its potential for growth, many people don’t travel. Some reasons are practical: financial constraints, demanding jobs, and family obligations. Others are psychological or cultural: fear of the unknown, guilt around spending money, or a belief that travel is frivolous.
In South Asian societies, for example, saving money is deeply ingrained. For many families, especially in developing regions, travel is seen as a luxury—an expense rather than an experience. There’s a prevailing idea that money must be saved for children’s education, weddings, property, or unforeseen emergencies. And while this prudence has its place, it often comes at the cost of personal fulfillment and mental well-being.
Consider the story of Uncle Muneeb, a respected schoolteacher in a small town. He spent 40 years diligently saving money for “retirement travels.” He postponed trip after trip, always waiting for the perfect time. Sadly, he passed away shortly after retirement, and the wealth he never touched was divided up by distant relatives. His dream of seeing the world never left the paper it was written on.
On the other hand, there’s Meher, a single woman in her early thirties who works modestly as a graphic designer. Every year, she sets aside just enough to take a solo trip—sometimes within the country, sometimes abroad. She returns home not richer in money but in stories, skills, resilience, and empathy.
The Cost of Postponed Living
We are conditioned to believe that accumulating wealth ensures a good life. But what about a meaningful life? Traveling, especially when done with openness and purpose, reminds us that joy, growth, and connection are not future goals—they are experiences meant to be lived now.
People often work decades to build homes, save for cars, invest in businesses, but forget to live in the process. We become prisoners of “someday,” chasing a mirage of happiness that often vanishes when we finally reach it.
Psychologists call it the “delayed life syndrome”—a condition where people postpone living in anticipation of a better time. Travel disrupts this pattern. It urges you to engage with the present, to sit on a mountain and watch the sunrise, to laugh with strangers, to lose your way in a new city and find a part of yourself in the process.
Mental, Physical, and Emotional Benefits
- Mental Clarity and Perspective
Travel challenges routine thinking. It disrupts autopilot mode and forces the mind to adapt, observe, and absorb. When we’re exposed to different cultures, languages, values, and lifestyles, we begin to see how narrow our worldview might be.
In Sarajevo, I once met a local shopkeeper who said, “We were neighbors, Muslims and Christians, and it took a war to make us forget our humanity.” That single sentence taught me more about peace, conflict, and history than any textbook ever could.
Traveling gives us mental space—away from screens, schedules, and stress—to reflect, read, write, meditate, or simply breathe differently.
- Physical Movement and Well-being
From hiking trails in Hunza to climbing stairs in Istanbul’s bazaars, travel involves movement—often more than we realize. It’s good for the heart, bones, and body.
Moreover, natural settings—mountains, forests, oceans—have been shown to reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone), lower blood pressure, and improve mood. Even city travel encourages walking, trying new foods, and engaging all senses.
- Emotional Growth and Healing
Travel can be deeply therapeutic. Many people travel to recover from grief, heartbreak, burnout, or personal transitions.
Andleeb, a girl from Islamabad, traveled alone through Thailand after a divorce. She describes it as the most painful and empowering month of her life. “I realized I wasn’t running away from my pain—I was walking through it,” she said.
Travel allows us to reconnect with ourselves, away from roles and expectations, and return with renewed emotional strength.
The Wealth of Memories
A luxurious car depreciates the moment you drive it off the lot. A designer handbag may go out of fashion. But a memory of dancing in the streets of Florence or sharing tea with a Bedouin/ Bedu family in Jordan? That only appreciates with time.
Shared journeys become lifelong stories. Family road trips, camping adventures, chaotic airport layovers, or that time your hostel roommate became your best friend—these memories create deeper bonds than any material possession ever could.
Even solo travel becomes a personal archive of courage, adaptability, and awe. The people we meet, the mistakes we make, the kindness we receive—all become part of a richer self.
Meeting the World, Meeting Yourself
One of the most profound gifts of travel is the connection to humanity. We realize how alike we are across borders and yet how diverse our expressions of life can be.
You meet a Turkish baker who wakes at 3 a.m. every morning. A Serbian grandmother who insists you try her homemade jam. A Kenyan boy who plays football with a bundle of cloth. A Swiss girl who’s biking through Asia. These encounters humble you. They break stereotypes, dissolve prejudices, and build empathy.
But you also meet parts of yourself: your fears, joys, limitations, and potential. You learn what makes you uncomfortable and what lights you up. You discover resilience when flights are missed, grace when plans fail, and wonder when nature surprises you.
Why Don’t More People Travel?
Besides economic and social limitations, fear plays a large role. Fear of discomfort, fear of risk, fear of wasting money or time. Many people wait for companions, ideal circumstances, or financial surplus before they even consider a trip.
Others see travel as a privilege—something only for the rich. But meaningful travel doesn’t require luxury. You don’t need five-star hotels or international tickets. What you need is curiosity, courage, and openness.
There are countless affordable options: community tours, local hikes, heritage walks, road trips, or volunteering exchanges. The key is to start where you are—with whatever means you have.
Investing in Experience Over Possession
One of the most important shifts we can make is to see travel not as an expense, but as an investment in our education, empathy, creativity, and well-being.
Studies consistently show that experiences bring longer-lasting happiness than material things. A new phone may delight you for weeks, but the joy of floating down a river at sunset with friends? That memory stays alive for decades.
Moreover, the skills learned through travel—adaptability, communication, cultural fluency, resilience—are increasingly valued in workplaces and relationships.
Final Reflections: Travel as a Way of Living
In the end, travel is not a hobby. It is a way of seeing the world—with wonder, with humility, and with hunger for meaning. It’s about stepping out not just of our homes, but of our assumptions. It’s about tasting life in different spices, hearing humanity in different languages, and touching stories beyond our own.
Travel teaches us that life is not measured in square feet or bank balances, but in moments lived, connections made, and growth embraced.
So whether it’s a train ride to a nearby village, a family trip across the border, or a solo journey halfway around the world—go. Don’t wait for retirement, riches, or the perfect plan. Pack light, walk slow, and let the world be your teacher.
Because in the end, we remember not what we owned, but where we went, who we met, and what we became.
Read – Travelogue: Through Borders and Bonds
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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.
