As children, we all wanted to travel the world when we grew up. Falling in love under the Eiffel Tower, gazing in wonder at the Taj Mahal, relaxing on the peaceful turquoise beaches of Miami… There has always been something tantalizing about meeting different people from different cultures, feeling what they are feeling, eating what they are eating, and wearing what they are wearing. National Geographic, BBC, and many other media platforms have only strengthened this wanderlust with awe-inspiring images and stories from all around the world.
But as we hit our 20s, we tend to lose this yearning to explore in work, life, and relationships. Many times, the relationships get us when we least expect it; we get a boyfriend that we love and suddenly all of the travel plans that we had dreamed up are forgotten. We look at the scrapbooks and bucket lists we made and think to ourselves, “I could make it there, but I need to save up for our anniversary.”
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In your 20s, if you have a chance to choose between love and travel, cater to your wanderlust. You are going to eventually find your man who you want to settle down with, so learn more about yourself and about the world in the meantime.
Not convinced? Here are a few reasons why:
1. You will do the things you would never do otherwise
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When in your regular life will you wear a traditional Chinese robe and go to worship? Or when will you spend the night on a beach underneath a full moon and a blanket of stars? Traveling in your 20s is going to give you the opportunity to go all out with your adventures and experience things that you otherwise never would. When you have a partner, you are not going to be able to leave without him, and it might not be possible to do the same with him around. If you are looking to travel and experience the world, you need to let go of the idea of a relationship for the time being.
2. This is your chance to explore the possibilities
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You might have a boyfriend that you love back home, but have you ever thought about whether there is someone better for you out there? Traveling the world is going to give you the chance to explore all your options.
When you travel at this age, you are also at the best of your health and time. Who knows: you might discover that you deserve so much better than you currently have, leading you to break away.
3. You will learn to live out of your comfort zone
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While traveling, you are going to be forced to get out of your shell and possibly live in uncomfortable conditions, but you will learn from it. You get to see and experience much more than you ever thought you would.
Leaving your shell also means that there is a possibility that you might like it outside. This is a lost cause if you have a boyfriend tying you down to one all-too-comfortable place. You do not want to be in the same place for your entire life making vacations to nearby states when you both have the time and money.
4. You get to meet new people
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When you are in a serious relationship, you are only going to be hanging out with his friends or yours. The clubs and pubs that you go to become your world and there are all kinds of people there that you might hit it off with. By not traveling, you are forgoing the chance to meet new, interesting people who can add new perspectives to your life.
We are not saying that there is anything wrong with your friends, but rather trying to emphasize that there is a whole world out there that you need to explore and experience.
5. You will discover new opportunities
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We just mentioned that you are going to meet new people and with that comes the possibility of new opportunities. There is a fair chance that you get a great career opportunity in the country of your dreams. You only need to believe in yourself and understand that you can conquer the world if you want to.
Staying in the same place and letting a relationship consume these years is only going to close all those opportunities, making life a lot duller as a result. Even if you do not really get those opportunities, you definitely will have fun and will make friends who you will keep in touch with for a lifetime.
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6. It will make you an independent person
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Traveling around the world means that you need to take complete control of yourself, from your belongings to your lodging to your means of transportation. You might face a little hassle in the beginning, but you will eventually learn how to manage without someone taking care of you all the time.
When you start to date someone in your 20s, you are rather young and are very used to letting them take care of you all the time. If your relationship doesn’t work, it will definitely flip your life upside down. This independence is essential for better growth as a person.
7. You will have more practical knowledge
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Traveling the world will make you street smart. You are going to have practical knowledge about the things that you do and the places that you go to. You will not be that foolish pretty girl who doesn’t know where she is going or what she is doing. You will know how to prepare for situations, and you are more likely to do well in whatever you pursue.
8. You become a better person
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When you are wandering around the world, you are not going to be happy all the time. You might be stranded, homeless, and will probably witness a lot of the misery that exists in the world. This will give you the reality check that you didn’t even know you needed. You will start to admire and value what you have and will hold it close to your heart.
When you return from your first adventure, you are going to hug your dad and thank him for giving you the best life that you could ask for. With a boyfriend, you may become too comfortable and end up taking a lot of this for granted.
9. You will find your purpose in life
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No matter what you do, something still feels missing. You might be working your job and doing really well, but you are not really going to be too happy with it. You know that it is not your calling and you need something different to make you happy. Traveling will bring you closer to that calling and will deliver the excitement that you are looking for.
A boyfriend in the picture will only limit those possibilities and will keep you shackled. You will want him to be happy, and you will continue to go with the flow of things because it is the easy thing to do.
10. You will discover yourself in a different light
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We are all lazy, rude, and headstrong in our own comfort zones. We like things the way we like them and there is no way we are willing to change that. Traveling means that you are going to be given luxury and also a fair share of compromise. You will be surprised at how much or how less your body and mind can endure in a given situation.
When you return, you will look back and be proud of how you handled certain situations and will also tell everyone stories about what happened in which country. When you are in a serious relationship in your 20s, you are not going to be able to explore yourself too well because you will use your time and energy towards exploring your boyfriend.
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With all of these points in mind, it’s clear to see why traveling the world is better than having a boyfriend. Finding love is an integral part of our lives, but we need to understand and explore ourselves before we commit our life to another person. Your 20s is the time when you have maximum potential to do it, so it is important that you use it wisely. So what are you waiting for? Book that one-way ticket and go – you won’t regret it!
Featured image source: Pixabay, under Creative Commons License
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