Beach in Perest, not too far from Kotor bay.Every individual has dreamed of visiting some place at one point or another. They have seen pictures and say to themselves, I want to go there. For some it happens later in life. For others it never does because they find all kinds of excuses. That drive to move, to go somewhere exotic where we have never been before is sometimes hard to ignore. But unfortunately, with time the excuses grow but these excuses shouldn’t stop you from traveling because hopefully, your drive to move and see the world is much stronger.
They dream of getting up one morning and being there. Or they dream of waking up one morning, drop everything and make their adventure a reality. But life get’s in the way. And like Langston Hughes brilliantly puts it, their dream dries up like a raisin in the sun and ends up being A Dream Deferred.
They put off their dream so late that it ends up becoming and impossibility. And then when something triggers their mind and brings them to remember it, they end just making excuses. And with time those excuses just add up and add they never travel to that place they had dreamed about. These are 15 excuses people usually make for not traveling.
It’s Expensive To Travel
This is an old and crappy excuse used by many to justify their deferred dream. They have put off traveling so much that they can’t find the joy in it anymore.
But traveling doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Destinations like Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Romania, Croatia, Argentina, Philippines and so many others are very affordable. The most expensive part of the whole trip might be your flight. But if you know how to find cheap flights, that would not be a problem either.
When you seek out promotions by many airline companies and sign up for them, you tend to find very good deals on fights. My last trip to Europe only cost me $440 and if I had signed up for the flight three weeks to a month in advance, I would have paid even less. So stop making this excuse and follow your heart to that great destination you have always wanted to go to. You work hard, you deserve it.
I Have A Job
Are you working to live or are you living to work? Most people fall under the latter part of that question. They spend most of their life working. They live to work. Work is all they have and life goes by them. By the time retirement or whatever they are working for comes around, they are too old and frail to do the things they wanted to do like, traveling.
When you are in your fifties and sixties you will just find another excuse to not travel. Now is the time to do it.
Your job is an avenue to make your dreams come true, to make your life exciting and better. You earn money so that you can have all the finer things in life. And if you have had an itch to travel, there is no finer thing in the world than to set your feet upon it and see all of it. No matter how much the media report about how efedup the world is, it is still a beautiful place to see with your own eyes. Your job should help you do that; it is the very reason we work. Work makes our lives worthwhile and being able to do the things outside of work that add the icing on the cake, there is nothing better.
I Have Too Many Responsibilities
We all do. Stop making this excuse; there is no young adult, adult, teenager and whatnot I know who doesn’t have responsibilities. Having responsibilities doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your life and make your dreams come true. Responsibilities help us put life into perspective and having perspective is not bad. But perspective without direction or something to aim for puts a damper in life.
Your success is important because you want to move ahead in life. I get it. We have all been there. It can be like a drug. You work hard trying to get that promotion and give all your time and energy to your company. People depend on you and they expect you to deliver. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have a responsibility to yourself. You have the responsibility to make yourself happy. And traveling and experiencing the world brings a one of a kind happiness.
Traveling will open up your eyes and mind. You will see things that instantly make you happy, things you never would have seen if you stay still. It will improve your life and allow you to think outside of the box. And when you get back, your career will still be there.
Family
Some people use family as an excuse not to travel. It’s expensive to travel with family but it doesn’t have to be. It’s all on how you budget and plan your trip. And the benefits are tremendous for the kids and yourself.
Everything I Need Is Right Here
That’s what everyone thinks until they go somewhere else. Not to pick on America but we tend to think likes this perhaps more than any country. It’s true most people have everything they need for them in their small space on the planet. But that space is much smaller than the world. Although you may think you have everything you need right there, there are always greener pastures elsewhere.
I am not saying don’t be content with what you have. Not at all. I am saying there is much more to the world than the little space you inhabit. And anyone who hasn’t traveled does not see the value of traveling until they do. It changes you in ways I can’t even describe. It changes you in ways you can never imagine.
Why
Because experiences make you happier than possessions.
I Don’t Know Where To Start
Start anywhere. Literally, start anywhere. Go somewhere you have never been before close to home. And as you feel more comfortable, venture out to further places. Like the old saying, it all starts with one step forward or so it goes.
One of the best ways to get started is to visit a friend or relative elsewhere. When you do this you are more comfortable in a different environment because there is a familiar face there. Not only that, you will have a guide to show you around and introduce you to the culture.
And by reading this, you are already on your way there. Research blogs, travel sites and loads of other travel resources online. Make sure you also know and research what to expect. They are great for planning out your first trip away. I will release an E-book next year to help you with that. It’s still a work in progress at the moment.
It Takes Too Much Planing
With all the blogs, websites, apps out there traveling has never been easier. There is an app for literally anything and planning your travels might just be an app away.
And once you are into traveling and do it often, you realize that the best part of some trips is because you don’t plan them. You just go. I did this one time for my trip to Taiwan and it was one of the best weeks I had spent anywhere.
A few steps you can keep in mind:
Know where you would like to go
Look up the cost of living there
Look up flights
Book a hostel Hostel world is great for this. And in hostels, you meet great people who are friendly and can do things with.
Once you have a place and flight booked, that’s pretty much it. You can pick up a travel guide or just use lonely planet and other great sites to know the things to do at that destination. Planning for a trip is not that hard really. And if you have questions or need help, that’s what the comment section below is all about.
It’s Dangerous Out There
It’s dangerous everywhere you can’t avoid danger really. It’s no different in your hometown or anywhere else. You could be crossing the street and get hit by car. I hope that doesn’t happen but I think you get what I mean and stop using this excuse.
And what the media may say about a country it’s often not the case. I found this out when I went to South Korea and definitely not the same now that I write this in Saudi Arabia. Both are very peaceful and very welcoming places. And you have a better chance of having danger come to you in your home country than in both of these countries.
I Can’t Get My Friends To Go With Me
You don’t need friends to travel. Often times friends get in the way, they hold you back and you don’t get to do all the things you want to do on your travels. If you want to go bungee jumping for example and they want to go exploring but you don’t want to go alone you give up your plan and join theirs. This will happen to you if you travel with other people.
But if you want that initial confidence before going off on your own, you can travel with someone you know with similar interests for a short period of time. This is not only good for your confidence but you will be able to do the things you want to do on your vacation since you have similar interests and of course, you won’t be alone.
Traveling Is A Headache
It’s the best thing that will happen to you. I live the travel life and I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s not always easy but there is always an adventure.
I’m Comfortable Here
Comfort can be both a good thing and a bad thing. If you are comfortable because you don’t want to experience anything else other than work, home, work, home and work, home and so on and so on, then you better really love your job because that’s where all your life force is going.
If you are comfortable in a miserable situation were you hate your job but see no way out, that’s not a good kind of comfort. It drains your life away and towards the end of your life you become bitter and angry. That’s no way to live. Break your comfort zone and try something new. Humans are not meant to be stationary. Movement is life and life is change. In fact change is the only thing that’s guaranteed in life.
In the end traveling may seem like a daunting task for some but for most, it’s something we aspire, work for and dream about. When you get your chance or an inkling to do it, don’t be one of the people making these 15 excuses people make for not traveling. It could be your biggest mistake. You don’t want to spent your last days on this great world wondering what could have been if you took that leap and ventured out into the world. It’s never too late.
Don’t be a stranger, I want to hear your thoughts below.
Very true! I have heard soooo many of these responses before!