At first thought, life on the road sounds like the opposite of healing. No set schedules. Constantly changing itineraries, and the risk of being stranded where no one speaks your language. 

How can this be healing?

I’ve thought about this for a while because as someone who loves traveling, weekend getaways, or even the afternoon trip to the coffee shop, I’ve always felt immense benefits through travel, whereas without it, I think I’d go mad.

The question is, why?

First and foremost, travel gives your life direction. When you have somewhere to go, you set yourself up with a target. With a target, you’re then motivated to move, and you have a reason to get up in the mornings.

Travel provides a clear sense of progress. It’s obvious when you’re getting one step closer or farther from your destination. Little things like buying a plane ticket and figuring out accommodation allow you to check off boxes and gives a sense of accomplishment.

All of this is not to mention the fun discoveries you can make on the road. The handicrafts, the food, the scenery, the smells, and of course, the people you meet along the way.

The healing aspects of being on the road come from the combination of all these things. Your experiences ultimately serve as a symbol of your ability to go out and make real changes in your life. You’re proving to yourself that you can make plans and act on those plans. You can get from A to B. You can say you want something out of life and make it happen. This can be very empowering.

On your return home, you never come back empty-handed. You bring back new experiences and skill sets you can then apply to situations that may have previously seemed insurmountable. Because back home the responsibilities are real, and they can seem overwhelming. Sometimes, we do feel a lack of direction, that there’s no sense of progress, and for the life of you, it seems you cannot do much to improve anything at all.

Travel, in this sense, is a microcosm of what you could do, a test of your character, and a reminder of your capabilities and self-worth. Travel is a gift you give to yourself, the kind of gift that enables you to learn how to heal yourself.

by Jason Lam