The Need To Travel

By Ora Cook

I am not sure how I developed the travel bug, but I defiantly have it. I think it came after hearing Moms Mabley’s, an African American comedian, reaction to her travels and the impact it had on her. Although probed and pushed by television hosts, she refused to discuss her journey in detail because certain things she saw and experienced were just too unpleasant for her to talk about. Although I was very young, I was greatly intrigued, like everyone else, and wanted to know what she saw. I recall saying to myself, “I want to go and see for myself what it is that she will not talk about.” I truly believe that is what sparked my desire and need to travel. Yes, I said need.

For me, travel is more than just wanting to get away from it all. Traveling allows one to be exposed to other cultures and to get a bird’s eye view of their life style and how it differs from theirs. You can see firsthand that someone can live differently from you and still have an enjoyable life. Many Americans think that unless someone live as they do, they are not really living.
The best way to experience the awesomeness of God’s creation is to see it for yourself. Television cannot do justice to the beauty of the Rio De Janeiro mountains and rainforest, the power of Niagara Water Fall, or the pink beaches of Bermuda and the Bahamas.

Travel helps me to remain grateful. When you see how others live especially in poorer countries, it makes me realized how blessed I am to live in American, even with all its faults. Travel allows one to truly develop an appreciation for difference without being judgmental and condescending. And of course, it is also for the purpose of leaving everything and everyone behind, to go someplace where you can shake everyday living off and recharge your batteries. I have encountered so many adults who have never ventured beyond their immediate area, let alone travel to another state or country. They have missed out on so much because the will not broaden their horizon.

I have heard so many reasons why people say they do not travel. “I don’t trust airplanes, they are always falling out of the sky” First of all, airplanes are not always falling out of the sky. As a matter of fact, USA TODAY did a study and found out that there are many more driving accidents than plane accidents. Some say it costs too much. Years ago, I had the opportunity to overhear some co-workers discussing their perspective on traveling. The spokesperson was giving her arguments for why they need to take vacations. Somebody in the group said vacations are too expensive. Her reply was “you can lay-a-way a vacation.” How correct she was. You can choose a destination for 2019 and begin making small payments until it is paid off. This works especially well for cruises.

Another reason is they don’t trust what is occurring around the world. Need I remind them that danger occurs in their backyard all the time, yet they still venture out to go to work, shop, church, visit family and friends, etc. Believe me, I understand that there will be times when you will not be able to travel. However, it shouldn’t be completely excluded from your life.

If you are one of those who are averse to travelling, I pray that just as Moms Mabley’s words created a desire within me to want to travel, I hope my blogs will have the same effect on you and cause you to step on out there.

I would like to end this blog with a very famous quote by Mark Twain. He perfectly sums up what travel it to me. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one\’s lifetime.”