Why Travel?

“Why would you want to travel?”

Before I attempt to answer this question I want to tell you story. I believe this story will give you a better insight to our world and how some people live.

In 1998 I was on my way to attend a national convention. It was a longer drive than I wanted. Today I would have flown. As I was making my way through several states I made the best of it by making frequent stops and enjoying our beautiful country.

Just about an hour away from my destination and I had to make another pit stop. I found a Wal-Mart so I decided to purchase a few things before I made it to the big city.

I think it is important for me to inform you that the convention was being hosted in a state capitol and I will refrain from revealing the name of that state since it could have happened in any state.

As I was standing in line making my purchase I asked the cashier how far it was to the state capitol? I was trying to figure out how much longer it was going to take before I reached my destination. She said, “I don’t know.” Her answer surprised me so I asked her, “When you drive to the state capitol how long does it take?” She says, “I have never been there.”

Now I am really surprised to hear her answer. I am looking at this lady whom I would guess to be middle aged, living an average income lifestyle and she is telling me she has never been to her state’s capitol which I found out later was less than an hour away.

She then said “I have grown up here and I have never had a reason to travel any further than 30 miles away from my home.”

As I walked to the parking lot I was laughing to myself trying to image what type of life it would be to never travel any further than a short distance from your home.

I will now answer the question, “Why would you want to travel?

I have found travel to be one of the best forms of education. You can read books watch TV and meet other people who are traveling through your city but the experience you get when you travel that is the best education.

During college I heard someone say, "Don't tell me how educated you are, tell me where you have traveled." The more I travel the better I understand this statement.

You can not help but change your perspectives on life once you begin to travel. Until you have experienced other people living in other locations you have no real idea what life is like in other parts of the world.

Educational expert, Howard Gardner, said, "Hitler didn't travel. Stalin didn't travel. Saddam Hussein never traveled. They didn't want to have their orthodoxy challenged.”
History may have changed if they had traveled to better understand our world.

Give yourself a gift. Travel outside of your hometown. Make the whole trip an educational experience.

I have walked the streets in New York City, the beaches along Florida’s coast line, the monument mall at our nation’s capitol, ridden the “L train” in Chicago, listened to jazz in New Orleans, driven through the Rocky Mountains, hiked in a California’s forest, and got stuck in traffic in Los Angles, all of these experience have changed the way I view America.

My suggestion, get an education by traveling someplace new. Expect to learn something new. You will be surprised what you will learn when you travel.

Steve Hart, your ytb travel agent

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