Top 11 Reasons Why Traveling is Beneficial

I've wanted to post this old e-mail for a while. It summarizes why I think it is important to travel. I wrote it in April or May of 2005 after returning from Thailand.

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I know, I know, I have been back for over a month and I am finally sending out my promised snapshots of Thailand. By now a majority of you have been subjected to the long version of this attachment with the lengthy explanation. But here are a few screen savers for you and if you are interested in more, let me know.

Otherwise, the remainder of this e-mail is dedicated to the top
reasons why I think it is beneficial to travel. I have been thinking
this list up for a bit now so if you have the patience for it, read
on.

1) My greatest motivation for traveling is that one can be inspired by the great things of the world. It can enlighten your perspectives and ennoble the mind. It can lift your mind and soul to higher and greater levels.

2) Man was made to learn from their own experience. Although reading can teach you quite a bit about the world, there is no greater teacher than the personal experience of being there.

3) This experience in different places and countries can increase
empathy towards others that we might not be able to otherwise relate to.

4) This experience and increased empathy can help us gain a greater love for people in other places. This can keep us from generalizing, stereotyping, and 'othering'. It increases a feeling of connectedness with humanity and helps us better live one of the highest commandments to "love one another".

5) It increases our knowledge and understanding of geography,
sociology, and history (and often times architecture and languages as well as international relations if you are traveling abroad).

6) Knowledge is a critical part of fully exercising our free agency. The more wisdom and knowledge we gain the better able we are to exercise our agency.

7) The world was created for our edification and enjoyment. The Lord literally created the earth to be pleasing to the eye and to gladden the heart. Why not appreciate His work.

8) I cite Doctrine and Covenants 88:78-79 "
Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly• come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—

9) Man is that he might have joy. All I can say is that the pure
anticipation of going somewhere new is enough to keep me happy for months...although I recognize that not everyone feels that way...

10) The more you get out of your comfort zone, the easier it is to do it in the future. The broader your comfort zone, the wider the range of possibilities of what you can do with your life.

11) One last thing, the people you meet are sooooo cool, and you get great screen savers.

Don't get me wrong. I believe the motivations behind what we do are crucial, obviously to ignore our responsibilities and frivolously travel isn't good, and I am not advocating that. However, odds are I've been trying to convince you to travel if you don't already. I hope this is persuasive.