New Eyes:The Power of Travel
I never travelled abroad growing up. Due to my family circumstances, it just wasn’t an option. My first real taste of travel came during a university trip to Rome, for four days. I experienced something totally different for the first time, and even though it wasn’t until more recently that I began to travel more but that trip opened the door. Since then, I’ve made it a point to see a little more of the world, and each journey has changed me.
Travel, to me, is so much more than reaching a destination. It’s a path to understanding others and rediscovering myself.
Whenever I travel, I try to make it meaningful. I seek out experiences that speak to my soul: spending time in nature, visiting spiritual places, learning about different cultures and people and, of course, enjoying each moment.
A Gift to My Inner Child
Each trip feels like a gift to my younger self. I didn’t grow up traveling, but that never made me less curious or capable. I simply had fewer opportunities. Now, every adventure is something I once only imagined. Bit by bit, my world has opened up.
Travel has been especially meaningful for me as someone with dual nationality. It’s helped me connect more deeply with both sides of my identity and appreciate the cultures I come from. It’s also made me more curious and open to other cultures far beyond my own heritage.
Why This Trip Mattered
A few months ago, in autumn, I visited family in Mexico and the U.S., relatives I’d never met before and then travelled solo through parts of the U.S. and Canada. That trip gave me more than just memories. It:
Forced me into the present
Away from my day-to-day routine, I could finally breathe. I got to be myself and move at my own pace, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Just being present was a relief.
Sparked constant curiosity
Tiny things like unfamiliar foods in supermarkets, fascinated me. Bigger moments like seeing landmarks or talking with strangers, filled me with wonder.
In Mexico, I stayed in an area that isn’t touristy, which gave me a more authentic view of people’s lives. Often, we only hear negative things in the media, but I found warmth, vibrancy, and a rich mix of tradition and modernity. Yes, caution was necessary, but so is nuance and what I saw was beautiful.
In the U.S., I loved the energy, the feeling that anything was possible. There was so much joy and aliveness.
In Canada, I was struck by how polite and helpful everyone was. The people I met seemed genuinely passionate about social justice, which inspired me. I appreciated the chance to learn about their values and initiatives.
Became healing, not just a holiday
I’d been going through a lot before I left, emotionally and mentally. This trip wasn’t just a break, this was time to process.
Hiking through forests and waterfalls in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, wandering among cactuses and watching the sunset over Lake Chapala in Mexico all of it helped ground me and felt like the kind of peace you don’t realise you need until you experience it.
There was something about the wild, vast nature in Canada and the U.S. that stirred something in me and connected to something greater.
In Mexico, I happened to visit during preparations for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and witnessing it was very moving. Families were building altars for their loved ones, including pets. There was beauty in how death was embraced not feared, but honoured and celebrated.
Connected me to my roots
Meeting my relatives in person filled in the blanks in stories I’d only heard secondhand. There was an instant warmth and familiarity and felt a sense of belonging.
The Transformative Power of Travel
Travel, in any form, has the power to:
Foster emotional, mental, and spiritual growth
Challenge your comfort zone
Build resilience and self-trust
Encourage creative problem-solving, especially through language and cultural differences
Shift your perspective on what’s “normal”
Help you rediscover forgotten parts of yourself
Introduce new habits, values, and relationships
Create fun and unforgettable memories, which is priceless
You come home changed. And the transformation often continues long after the trip ends.
Takeaway
Travel taught me that life is magical when you slow down enough to notice and appreciate the little things. Meeting family and spending time alone gave me freedom, perspective, and healing. If you’re considering a trip and it is on your heart, but something is holding you back fear or doubts and you can make it happen, go. You’ll come back changed and richer in ways that go far beyond money.
