Travel, to me, has always symbolised adventure, opportunities, and growth. But what Iāve come to realise is that, more than these promises, the reason travel excites me so much is that it unlocks a whole new personality- one that only comes alive once my flight takes off from Chennai airport.
When we land in a different city, state, country, or even continent, we subconsciously develop awareness of the fact that no one around really knows us. They donāt know our behaviour or style, and probably consider us nothing more than background characters in their lives. And so, we start to experiment with these very traits. Our clothing sense may start to differ- dark shades become refreshing pastels, and straightened hair can slowly give way to natural curls. A timid, shy individual can suddenly gain the confidence to laugh loudly and wear their personality on their sleeve, temporarily shedding the self-image they curated back home. With none of the usual familiar faces watching us, and noticing how we choose to change, we all develop the capacity to become a whole new person, even if only for a few days.
Think of it like slipping into a different skin. And while you may choose to shed it once you return home, traces of it are absorbed into the one underneath, subtly reshaping how you see the world.Ā
As a psychology student, Iāve frequently learnt about the ability of our brain to change or adapt to new surroundings and experiences, and I think that nothing reflects this ability more than travel does. An unfamiliar environment teaches us how to act acceptably in a culture and group that is fundamentally different to ours. We learn what constitutes right and wrong, and adjust our behaviour accordingly. In doing so, we inadvertently become more empathetic human beings, understanding that weāre all just people living in one world despite social and geographical distances. Whatās beautiful about this is that empathy doesnāt stem from some ālessonā thatās been preached in schools, it’s a natural byproduct of travel and exploration.
As we develop this kindness, we also become more curious about one another. Individuals start to place themselves in each otherās shoes, wondering what it would be like to live a day in anotherās life. Whether it be Bangalore, Greece, America, or any other corner of the world, everyone has a story to tell, and travel allows those stories to be acknowledged and respected. From others, we learn how to be and how not to be as well. On the journey back home, we rarely notice that we return just a bit more knowledgeable than when we left.Ā
This newfound wisdom is also accompanied by a sense of refreshment that comes with abandoning our usual routine. When Dal Chapati is swapped out for mango sticky rice, and daily classes are replaced with visiting tourist attractions, we start to feel freed from a monotony that we probably didnāt realize we had fallen into. We start to enjoy ourselves more, and appreciate even the little things that represent foreignness; such as a different scent in the air or an exotic view. A change in scenery can often serve as a peaceful retreat, allowing us to take a breath and explore who we are without our day-to-day responsibilities. Simultaneously, it can also provide the push an individual needs to, perhaps, create a new beginning for themselves. Moving out of our home, even temporarily, means stepping out of our comfort zone. And that inevitably impacts who we are.Ā
Maybe the true essence of travel then lies in the fact that it doesnāt really āreinventā us, but shows us the versions of ourselves that we didnāt know existed, blurring the lines between who we are and who we could be.