If you can travel, by all means please do it. Don’t wait until you have someone to go with, don’t wait until you think you’ll be better off, don’t wait around because of whatever excuse you have floating around in your mind.

Don’t do it for bragging rights, don’t do it for a short vacation, and definitely don’t do it for the Insta. Do it because it can change your life immensely in the best way possible.

If you have an opportunity, embrace it full on because travel is worth it. Travel will humble you, it will test you and break you, but it will ultimately make you a better person.

1. It makes you appreciate the little things.

The luxuries you’re used to at home won’t necessarily be wherever you are. I’ve been hanging my clothes on a clothesline when my whole life I’ve been lucky enough to have a dryer and I learned that I actually enjoy hanging my clothes out to dry.

2. It teaches you to learn to live with less.

Moving and traveling greatly decreases your wardrobe and personal belongings, in a positive way. Before I moved across the world I cleaned out my closet and dresser twice, and now I’ve been wearing the same two sweatshirts on repeat. You don’t need everything, just a few outfits that fit in your suitcase, it teaches you to recognize your fortunes.

3. Experience is much more valuable than items.

There are things that I normally would buy, even before I came on my trip, but I didn’t because I knew I couldn’t take it with me. Now I’m in a similar boat, knowing that I can’t afford to buy things because I don’t have room and because I’d rather use that money to book another flight instead of buy a cheesy souvenir.

4. It makes you less picky.

I’ve been so used to having endless condiment choices. I’ve been used to knowing what everything is on the menu. I was even used to knowing that even if I went from coast to coast in America I knew I could find the same food at either end of the country. Traveling makes you try new foods and you adapt because if you don’t you basically don’t eat and no one likes being hungry.

5. You learn to just go with the flow.

I used to get super stressed about time and what the plan was (I still do to some extent), but now I don’t really have control over it. I’m learning to just let go and go with things.

6. You’re forced outside your comfort zones (in the best way possible).

There are some things that you just might not be so keen to do, but you’re in a different country so there is no better time to eat weird food and try something you’re scared of. There is also no better time to try public transportation you have no idea how to ride.

7. Travel teaches you patience.

This one is huge because being a traveller people are learning to be patient with me when I ask what something is, or ask them to repeat their sentence for the third time because I can’t understand them. It teaches you to take a step back, breathe and realize that if you don’t know something or if you’re late by a few minutes things will still work out, all you need is a little patience.

8. You’re reliant on strangers most of the time (and that’s okay).

I moved in with a couple I’ve never met until the day I moved in and they’ve been nothing but amazing towards me. I learned how to drive on the other side of the road and on the opposite side on the car from a guy I met a few hours before that. I relied on someone I met a few days before I needed them to bring me to a job interview. Strangers are kind and most of the time they’re just like you, you just have to give them a chance.

9. It teaches you you’re not the smartest person in the world.

There will be times you say something you think is normal and everyone just blankly stares at you because they have no idea what you’re talking about. You can’t assume that people around you are going to know what you’re saying, most of the time you have to ask questions, even if it’s a stupid one.

10. It reminds you how lucky you are to miss home.

I miss home, my family and my friends. It’s hard to be away from them, but it makes me realize how lucky I am to have them. Travel makes you find a new respect for home, but it also teaches you to fall in love with new places and discover new happiness.