This Thanksgiving, I can’t help but reflect on the many reasons I’m thankful for travel.  Musings that seem bittersweet in a year when quarantines have led to grounded fights, docked cruise ships, and numerous travel restrictions.  When the closest most of us came to adventure was a masked outing to the grocery store, hand sanitizer in tow.

But, if there’s one thing COVID-19 has taught us, it’s to be grateful for the things that we once took for granted. Crowded shuttles sitting inches away from strangers.  Bustling restaurants with excessively long wait times.  Sold out concerts with thundering acoustics.  And, hugs with loved ones saying good-bye.

Naturally, one of the things many of us miss most this year is travel.  Maybe it’s because we desperately need an escape after months of stress and social isolation.  Or maybe it’s because, in the absence of travel, we’ve come to realize just how much we truly value it.

In any case, here are five reasons I’m thankful for travel this holiday season.

1. Travel Connects Us

People crave connection.  Even as cavemen with drab outfits and even shabbier accommodations, one thing was consistent – we were together.  And, nothing supports connecting with others quite like travel.

We travel to visit loved ones who live far away.  We go on adventures with our significant other to strengthen our relationship.  And, we make life-long memories with friends and family on trips to exciting new places.

But, travel doesn’t just help us connect with people we already cherish.  It also introduces us to new friends and cultures that further enrich our lives.  Our shared experiences break down misconceptions, false assumptions, and even prejudices to leave us with a broader perspective.  And, with that broader perspective, we meet new friends we would’ve never gotten to know otherwise.

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2. Travel Offers New Experiences

Another reason to be thankful for travel is the myriad of new experiences it offers.  For the adventurous, travel can take you to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to South Africa for a safari or a cage dive with great white sharks, and to Antarctica for a swim with icebergs.

For the culinary-curious, travel can introduce you to some of the best wines in the world, delectable eateries in Paris, and new traditional foods (like a Moroccan tagine… my fave!)

And, for the history buff, travel immerses you in the trials and triumphs of the past.  But, more on that in a minute…

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3. Travel Shows Us Real Beauty

The world is full of alluring places.  Picture perfect landscapes and astounding architectural triumphs that leave us picking our jaw up off the floor.  And, the only way to truly marvel at their beauty is through travel.

Nothing beats the feeling of walking into the expansive interior of Europe’s magnificent cathedrals for the first time.  Their elaborate stained glass windows and intricate decor will literally take your breath away.

Or, the way the light looks on the water when the sun hangs just below the horizon in the wee hours of an Antarctic morning.  How the hushed stillness of its mirrored reflection looks more like a painting than real life.  Words fall short of its otherworldly elegance.

Then, there are impressive works of art created by some of the greats.  The priceless pieces grace museums, town squares, and piazzas all around the world.  Their deliberate brush strokes and expertly carved stone seem to take on a life of their own.  An entire world in an artist’s canvas.

One of the many reasons I’m thankful for travel is that I’ve been able to see some of them with my own eyes.  Bucket list experiences that will stay with me forever.

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4. Travel Brings History To Life

Studying history can be a bit of a snooze.  I get it.  But when you travel, the past comes alive around you.  It pulls you in with awe-inspiring, heart-wrenching, and captivating stories that leave you forever changed.

Seeing historic landmarks like the Roman Colosseum, Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, and Europe’s longest-operating salt mine are marvels that no textbook could possibly do justice to.  Setting foot in them gives you a sense of what it was like to be alive in the height of their glory.

When roman gladiators would fight to the death surrounded by chanting onlookers in stadium seating.  Or, standing on top of the Arc de Triomphe and imagining the crowd as Napoleon’s body passed underneath it on the way to the Emperor’s final resting place.  And, what it must have been like to live in the underground mines where workers made intricate salt chandeliers to replace the radiance of natural sunlight.

Then, there are the historic places that shake you to your very core.  Places where it’s impossible not to cry at the sight of them.  The gas chambers in Auschwitz where so many innocent victims lost their lives during the Holocaust.  Or, setting foot inside Anne Frank Huis and realizing just how cramped her living quarters really were.  What it must have been like to spend day after day in silence while thick, black curtains blocked even the smallest ray of sunlight.

When we’re able to see, firsthand, places we’ve only ever read about in books, it helps add color, texture, and life to the past in a way that little else can.

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5. Travel Is Something To Look Forward To

Finally, one of the biggest reasons to be thankful for travel is that it gives you something to look forward to.  A sentiment that’s never been more evident than in 2020, when there’s been so little to get enthused about.

Planning a vacation can almost be as much fun as taking one.  The eager excitement of booking a flight.  Finding the perfect accommodations near all the right points-of-interest.  Researching the best day trips, activities, and restaurants to enjoy while you’re there.  And then, counting down the days until you get to savor the fruits of your labor.  It’s intoxicating!

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So, in a year that’s been tougher than most, the reasons I’m thankful for travel are glaringly obvious.  But, that’s the gift the hardships of 2020 have brought into sharp focus.  And the gift is this – to never take travel and its plethora of “frustrations” for granted again.  The cramped legroom, long security lines, and overflowing suitcases simply mean you’re off on another grand adventure.

I, for one, can’t wait till the next!

What are some reasons you’re thankful for travel?  Comment below, I’d love to hear them!

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