Most people think of travel as a luxury: Something only for the privileged, only for the wealthy, only those with time to spare. But ask any traveler, and they’ll quickly set you to rights: Travel is for anyone who wants it. Travelers make sacrifices to travel–time, money, even relationships sometimes. Why would anyone give up these things (and more) just to travel somewhere? Because it’s important. Travel gives the traveler many gifts that permeate into every aspect of life. Travelers believe travel makes them more empathetic, kinder, confident people. The act of traveling might just be more important than you think.

Travel Relieves Stress

Do we really need another reason? Sure, elements of travel are inherently stressful, especially if you’re already an anxious individual. However, the fun parts of travel–the experiences, the newness, the change of scenery–are significant stress relievers. Travel often includes increased activity, such as walking or hiking, which releases endorphins. Also, stress decreases when you simply experience a place you’ve dreamt of and made it your goal to visit. Ironically, the “stress” many of us equate with traveling actually helps us handle stress in our “real lives” back home. So, really it’s a win-win.

More here: The Top 10 Guaranteed Ways to Ruin Any Trip

Travel Builds Confidence

Confidence is everything. What it’s not, however, is arrogance. There is a distinct difference. A traveler is one who has nothing to prove, they’re secure in their life choices, and they can do anything because they have the confidence to do so. When you travel, you’re put into so many unusual, uncomfortable, unbelievable situations. You have two choices: Do nothing and possibly cry, or suck it up and figure it out. Figuring out the hard stuff makes figuring out the everyday stuff so much easier. And when you know you can overcome or achieve something, you have the confidence to make it happen. Travel builds confidence in ways that very few other activities do.

Read on: How to Travel Solo with Confidence

Travel Sparks Your Creativity

If you’re stuck in a rut, travel will pull you out of it. Even if you’re not what you’d consider a “creative person,” travel will ignite that in you. Travel makes us think outside the box, go about things differently, and use different parts of our brain that we don’t often have to use. Listening to and understanding accents, anyone? Reading different ways that people write letters? Driving on the opposite side of the road? Whether you’re a writer, photographer, knitter, artist, singer, or just like to be creative in other ways, travel will spark the creativity you need in your life.

Also helpful: What is a Creative Retreat? (And why you need one!)

Travel Makes You Happier

Have you ever met an unhappy serial traveler? Me neither! Travel makes us come alive and see what we’re made of. It helps us see the good in everyone we meet, everywhere we go. Sure, we all have negative experiences when traveling, but the part of travel that’s so great is that you’re never in that situation for long. You move on to the next place, you meet someone new, you try something else and it turns out to be fun. That principle bleeds over into your regular life back home, too. The things that use to bring you down don’t seem like such a big deal anymore.

Keep reading: How Travel Helped Heal My 22-year Eating Disorder

Travel Makes You a More Interesting Person

Not to say that people who don’t travel are uninteresting, but people who do travel have an awful lot of interesting life experiences. People often think of travelers as worldly or exotic, always jetting off to faraway places that don’t exist in everyday life. And that’s a totally fair assessment. The truth is, however, we’re just regular, everyday people who choose to take trips, take chances, take opportunities. Our lives might seem intriguing or mysterious or even wild–and that’s exactly what makes us so interesting. But you know what else? Anyone can travel if they want to travel, just like anyone can be interesting or mysterious if they want to be.

Related: 10 Ways Travel Prepares You for Life

Travel Brings the World and History to Life

This is my favorite part about travel. Cambodia isn’t just some place you heard about in history class, it’s a real place where real people live–and have lived for thousands of years. Egypt isn’t just the subject of a zillion documentaries, it’s a real place where people live, work, and travel. The Galápagos Islands aren’t just a science experiment, they’re real islands where hundred year old giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies and penguins live. When you see places for yourself, they become real in a different way. You know, intellectually, that these places are real, but until you see them, you can’t really grasp just how real they are. It’s hard to describe, but visiting a place you’ve only ever heard about it’s like stepping into a favorite book and realizing you’re now part of the story. It’s unlike any other real-life experience.

Essential info: How to Be Your Own Travel Advocate

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Are you ready for this? Travel gives you a greater appreciation of home. Being a traveler doesn’t make you only want to travel. Home is a place to belong in a specific way, and it’s definitely where the heart is. Ironically, the more a person travels, the more they appreciate their home and what they have. And the more that person is home, the more they want to get out and see and experience new places. It could be a vicious cycle or virtuous one. You get to choose.

Keep reading: The Top 30 Trips to Take in Your 30s

Want more? Get everything you need and then some on my dedicated Travel Trips Page!

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