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We travel for a variety of reasons – to see far off places, meet new people, feel sand between our toes, or simply to have something interesting on social media (come on, we’ve all done it). But the greatest benefit of seeing the world? The way travel changes you like little else can. Beyond the pretty pictures and the sun-kissed tan, you gain a perspective that stays with you long after your bags are unpacked. Here are just a few ways travel changes you. TRAVEL TEACHES YOU VALUE One of my favorite commercial campaigns of all time was for Mastercard (and the spoofs were, well, “priceless”). But the premise was profoundly obvious – there are some things in life money can’t buy. In addition to priceless experiences, you also gain an appreciation for things that are seemingly average in your everyday life. Simple pleasures like air conditioning, clean drinking water, easy communication, and elevators (which are sorely missed when lugging 35 pounds of luggage up 9 flights of stairs). TRAVEL TURNS YOU INTO A “YES MAN” It starts by simply saying “yes” to a trip. Then before you know it, you’re saying “yes” to new foods, cultures, and even adventures you’ve only ever dreamed of! Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge? Why not! Cage Dive with great white sharks? They seem harmless enough. You realize how good it feels to be open to new experiences. And that openness translates to looking for new opportunities in your everyday life. TRAVEL BURSTS YOUR BUBBLE We’re all guilty of the 10-mile bubble. That familiar little area around our home that seems like our entire universe and nothing else exists. But the world is so much bigger than our comfort zones. Travel teaches you that our way of life isn’t the only way of life. There are other cultures, societies, religions, and traditions which make up someone else’s comfort zone, and that’s ok. And, most importantly, you realize not everyone is as fortunate as you. To some, simple things like electricity, adequate food, and clean drinking water are luxuries they’ll never experience. You see the world from a different point of view, and that opens you up to accepting diversity and being grateful for things you once took for granted. Travel is filled with experiences (often unplanned) that make you grow in ways not possible through traditional education. It pushes you, stretches you, and opens you up to so much more than you can imagine. And it creates a lasting change that will stay with you forever.