travel_health_wealthTravel is not only one of my favorite hobbies, but it’s one of my favorite health practices too.  There’s something about going to a new place that invokes the imagination, physical strength and mental agility.  Getting lost discovering the “newness” and unknown in an unfamiliar locale really boosts self assurance.  And that’s how travel keeps us healthy, wealthy and sane.

First stop: Health.

Traveling by plane, train or automobile, we are exposed to several different physical feats.  (And germs, but more on that later.)  Packing the suitcases, loading the car and dredging through the airport all count as cardio in my book.  And I haven’t even mentioned hiking, biking, walking and shopping once you’ve reached the destination.

While the physical exercise is great, there’s so much more.  Now that there is travel for spiritual reasons, work related reasons, honeymoons, baby-moons, anniversaries, golf trips and more, our options to get up and go are limitless.  And exciting.  And fulfilling.  When we feel motivated to travel, all those good hormones start pumping in our bodies and let off some good ju-ju (aka steam).  I mean, just writing this is making me want to check out the deals on Southwest.com.

Quick note on those germs:  Always be sure to have your immune system, sanitations and medications in check before going anywhere.  This sounds like common sense, but I’ve had too many trips with friends and loved ones (including myself) that left basic health precautions at their front door instead of bringing them along.  Not a good idea.  Practice good health while traveling and pack extra hand sanitizer.

Second stop: Wealth.

There’s a saying, “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”  I couldn’t agree more.  Whether traveling for work or for play, a new area exposes us to so many new things: sites, people, culture, food.  I love the thrill of telling other people my stories from vacation or work trips when I get home.  It’s sharing the new wealth of knowledge from far away places that keeps us truly wealthy.

Final Stop: Sanity.

I have another travel quote that I love: “We travel not to escape life, but so that life doesn’t escape us.”  That is so important in the digital instant-gratification age we live in today.  It’s literally too easy to get caught up in the rat race, bogged down at work and stressed out at home.  When feeling down and out, it’s time to get out.  Get out of town, sister!  Go somewhere you’ve never been, even if it’s a town or two over.  Check out a cute B&B or try kayaking on a nearby lake/river/ocean.  The freedom achieved by letting go of household chores, daily work emails and keeping up with the Jones’ (or the Kardashians, if you’re that competitive) is easily escaped through travel.  Your mind simply needs that type of release from adulting to stay level-headed.  Trust me, your children and co-workers will thank you.

If nothing else, I hope this got your wheels spinning on your next vacation.

Cheers!

shannon hagerty

 “It’s good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters in the end.” – Ernest Hemingway

Make sure you make lots of good stops on the long journey of life!

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