Every family has a personality partly defined by collective interests. Travel has been a strong influence in ours. Living in different countries has created unique, unrepeatable experiences, and has infused them into the fabric of who we are. As a family we’ve had lots of practice with the following:
Nonconformity
Travel forges a unique path and shared history. Part of that for us was learning the freedom of nonconformity when it comes to family sabbaticals, gap years or picking up and relocating more permanently. We often find ourselves in situations most people wouldn’t consider, and perhaps for good reason.
Adreneline Bumps
Adventure, a cliche I wish I could ignore. But on the edge of the unfamiliar is where the exciting personal stretching happens. That’s also where a lot of fun and the rush of feeling totally alive, takes place, and why we continue to seek out the unknown.
Far-Flung Lessons from Around the World
These are my favorite kinds of lessons, the unexpected ones. You never know how you will be personally impacted by the people, the experiences. Travel is learning packaged in the most surprising, colorful, and unconventional ways.
Empathy
We live in a narcissistic society where empathy is undervalued. The opposite should be true. Empathy is best learned by osmosis when connecting with people who are different from you. Living and making close friends in other cultures is a natural way to make this happen.
Courage
When taking risks, pushing beyond familiarity becomes the norm, not the scary exception. Every day of travelling as a family is living outside the comfort of complacency. Taking steps into the unknown may start as a collective family activity, and often evolves into an individual strength.
