I never think of travel helping my health. Certainly, long-haul flights, which have often been unavoidable for me, seem to take their toll on my well-being. But that aside, my general state of health seems to have remained more or less constant in all the countries I've lived in.
This is not how I expected this article to go at all and I loved it.
Much of my career as a project manager for a large company in the oilfield services industry encompassed traveling. I always booked extra days on those trips for sight-seeing.
Immersing myself in different cultures, experiencing the astonishing history of these places, and interacting with people with a completely different upbringing than me did more for my mental health than any kind of therapy.
The perspective you get is amazing. I recommend traveling abroad for any young person about to start their adult life. You get a great grasp on the bigger world out there and realize just how insignificant your "big" problems are.
As for your point on health, I only got sick once. I had the most miserable week in Singapore when I caught the flu on the way over. Worst. Training. Session. Ever. (And I was the teacher!)
A great post, Jenna.
I never think of travel helping my health. Certainly, long-haul flights, which have often been unavoidable for me, seem to take their toll on my well-being. But that aside, my general state of health seems to have remained more or less constant in all the countries I've lived in.
I'd never really pondered it either, until reading those books.
Can attest, quite a few bouts of some random sickness of all sorts on the road, but I assume this is helping my immune system??
Only if you believe Outside Magazine!
This is not how I expected this article to go at all and I loved it.
Much of my career as a project manager for a large company in the oilfield services industry encompassed traveling. I always booked extra days on those trips for sight-seeing.
Immersing myself in different cultures, experiencing the astonishing history of these places, and interacting with people with a completely different upbringing than me did more for my mental health than any kind of therapy.
The perspective you get is amazing. I recommend traveling abroad for any young person about to start their adult life. You get a great grasp on the bigger world out there and realize just how insignificant your "big" problems are.
As for your point on health, I only got sick once. I had the most miserable week in Singapore when I caught the flu on the way over. Worst. Training. Session. Ever. (And I was the teacher!)
Thanks for bringing up some good memories for me!
I have driven in 48 states and I can attest that it helps my mental health state so incredibly much.
I am embarking soon on my next trip - a lot of states then up in to Canada with my dogs (again) - this time east coast instead of west coast.
Glad to find your newsletter! Thank you for writing !
You got me at “bleeding out of all her facial orifices”. I just want to know HOW the author came up with that idea.
I love pairing the BIG BOOKS with picture books :)