Packing for Adventure

Did you make yourself a New Year’s Resolution this year? I joked with someone recently about how January is the time of year we all become better people temporarily. But jokes aside, I think setting goals and personal development is really important.

If international travel was not on your list for 2026, think about adding it! Not because it sounds impressive or glamorous, but because stepping outside your own country has a quiet way of changing you for the better.

Here are 10 reasons why anyone can benefit from international travel, and why it deserves a spot on your New Year’s resolutions.

1. It Expands Your Perspective on Life

Seeing how people live in other parts of the world reshapes how you view your own life. What once felt essential may suddenly feel optional, and what felt small may gain new meaning. Travel reminds you that there are countless “normal” ways to live, and yours is just one of them.

2. It Helps You Appreciate Your Own Blessings

Nothing sharpens gratitude like contrast. Whether it’s access to clean water, personal safety, healthcare, or even simple conveniences, travel often brings a deeper appreciation for what you already have.

3. It Breaks You Out of Autopilot

Daily routines have a way of numbing us. Traveling internationally forces you to pay attention again; to new languages, currencies, customs, and rhythms. You become present in a way that everyday life rarely requires.

4. It Builds Confidence in Unexpected Ways

Navigating foreign airports, menus you can’t read, or transportation systems you don’t understand proves something important: you are more capable than you think. That confidence doesn’t stay abroad; it comes home with you.

5. It Makes You More Patient and Adaptable

Plans change. Trains run late. Things get lost in translation. International travel teaches flexibility and patience in real time. These skills can quietly improve how you handle stress back home – I’ll let you know once I’ve discovered exactly how much international travel it takes before I’m not always a stress case!

6. It Deepens Cultural Understanding

Reading about other cultures isn’t the same as experiencing them. Sharing space with people whose traditions, values, and histories differ from yours builds empathy and softens the sharp edges of “us vs. them” thinking.

7. It Strengthens Relationships

Whether you travel solo, with a partner, or as a family, shared international experiences tend to bond people deeply. You solve problems together, celebrate small wins together, and create memories that feel richer because they were earned.

8. It Encourages Simplicity

Travel often strips life down to essentials: a few outfits, a plan for the day, and curiosity. That simplicity can be refreshing, and may inspire you to declutter not just your suitcase, but your life.

9. It Reignites Curiosity

International travel wakes up the part of you that asks questions. Why is this food prepared this way? Why is this city designed like this? Curiosity keeps life interesting, and travel feeds it generously.

10. It Gives You Something to Look Forward To

Sometimes the benefit isn’t just the trip, it’s the planning. Researching destinations, learning about history, imagining yourself somewhere new gives the year momentum. It turns “someday” into a date on the calendar.

A Resolution That Lasts Beyond January

If this is the year you travel more, you may find that the world feels both bigger and more connected, and that your place in it feels a little more grounded than before. At the end of the day, international travel isn’t about escaping life, it’s about returning to it with clearer eyes.

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