6 Things Traveling as a Child Taught Me as an Adult

Growing up, my family didn’t have a lot of money, but I never felt like we were poor -- I just knew we didn’t have the funds for a lot of extra luxuries in life. However, I often felt like I came from the richest family around because year after year, we went on a vacation. Now, I’m not talking about trips to a nearby city. No. We traveled across the country and flew over the ocean. We visited theme parks and national parks. We explored historical sites and natural wonders. Traveling was a priority in my home.

In fact, my parents had a special financial fund to pay for our trips. My dad was the sole provider in my home and every paycheck, my parents would put a small portion of his pay into this account – even if it was a meager amount. They worked hard not to go into debt with these vacations and to plan according to their means. But my family of six (I’m the oldest of four daughters), always had a vacation to look forward to each year.

As I’ve looked back on my childhood and have reflected on these adventures, I’ve realized these trips have carried more than just memories into my adult life — they’ve carried life lessons that I still use today. In fact, here are just six things that traveling as a child has taught me as an adult.

1. Take the time to problem solve

Life doesn’t go according to plan. Things happen that quite frankly, just suck. This is true when traveling as well. Flights are canceled, tires pop, poor weather comes your way, and so much more. When these challenging moments come — and they will — it’s okay to take a step back, assess the problem, and brainstorm a solution. Sometimes, it’s going to take multiple tries before everything is fixed and you can continue onward, and that’s okay.

2. Rest is necessary for happiness

Yes, many of our vacations were packed with activities, but my parents also made time for relaxation. Not every moment of a vacation has to be planned and not every minute of your day has to be on the go. If you’ve ever taken a red-eye flight, for example, you know there is nothing better than a short power nap in the morning before you start your day of adventures. At an amusement park, a short rest at the hotel in the afternoon is the pick-me-up you need to keep moving until the gates close. It’s important to make rest a priority in all areas of your life.

3. A little variety is a good thing

From all of my travels as a child, I developed a deep love of the ocean. It became my happy place — the place that seemed to calm my soul. However, there was also nothing quite like a camping trip in the mountains. The towering trees and the sounds of rustling leaves still bring a sense of comfort to my heart. And I am always mesmerized when flying above a large city at night as the bright lights stand out in the sea of blackness below me. There is so much to love in our world and while we may have favorite places to explore, a little variety is a good thing. Each destination has something to give — they all offer benefits to your mind and body. It’s good to mix and match where you go and what you see when traveling and on a day-to-day basis. A little variety helps break up the monotony. It's the flavor that makes life exciting.

4. Patience is a virtue

Patience is a virtue that I’m still trying hard to master. However, many of the experiences during my travels as a child have helped me get closer to my goal. Long car rides without much to occupy me (this was a time before smartphones and tablets) required patience. Waiting in lines for amusement park rides required patience. Traveling with three young siblings required a lot of patience. Even just waiting to leave on a trip that I had been anticipating for months required a whole bunch of patience. And while people don’t necessarily think of patience when they think of me (I'm a work in progress), I find I’m a lot calmer in certain situations than others thanks to many of these childhood experiences.

5. Don’t be shy – ask questions

When I was a teenager, my grandparents rented a tour bus and all of my immediate and extended family took a road trip to the Midwest to visit dozens of historical sites. It was a trip I’ll always remember. Not only because of the time spent with my family but because of the things I learned and the curiosity that was ignited in me. I remember spending my evenings asking my grandpa question after question about various things we saw and heard. I came home from that trip and read book after book about the places we visited. I now have a deep love for that area and the periods we learned about. 

Asking questions allows you to discover and explore. It ignites your curiosity and makes you develop a different perspective on people, places, situations, and more. As I tell my children, "Questions are never a bad thing."

6. Kindness is the most important language

While countless blessings come from being smart, beautiful, handy, etc., the most important thing you can be is kind. A smile goes a long way for a person who is depressed and discouraged. A friendly response when someone has a question can set the tone for the entire conversation. A moment of your time to help someone in need can be the best part of that individual's day — these moments matter. When traveling, you meet new people, experience new cultures, and can even uniquely assist others.

Several years ago, my family, with several young children, was flying to California. Our fight was canceled and trying to find a flight with enough seats for the adults and children in my family was proving difficult. I asked worker after worker from various airlines for help, with most of them being quite rude and unwilling to assist. I finally met one lady who extended kindness to me. She sat down and helped me find several options, one of which worked perfectly for our situation. This lady went out of her way to show kindness and that's what I remember most about that trip - it's a memory I don't want to forget.

It’s so important to show kindness to others because you never know when you will need it in return.

As you can see, memories of traveling with my family are something I hold dear to my heart but the lessons I’ve learned have made a difference every single day. Did you travel as a kid? What lessons have you learned from your adventures? Let me know about your travel diaries! I’d love to hear from you.