The Value Of Travel
My wife, Kris, and I just returned from a two week vacation in Western Europe. I will get into the specifics of the trip in a later blog, however I wanted to spend a few minutes reflecting on the impressions that this trip, and others, have had on us. We often travel for just fun and relaxation which is wonderful, however visiting foreign lands and experiencing their rich history, culture and art is so valuable to understanding who we are, how we got here and appreciating what people have gone through and experienced.
Although Kris and I have traveled extensively, it never ceases to amaze us how rich our World is in its history. Manβs accomplishments of the past are astounding and really hard to comprehend at times. Visiting the huge churches and castles built hundreds of years ago never ceases to bring forward the question β how did they build those things without computers and heavy equipment?
The art and how much it influenced not only civilizations of its time but also shaped the World is something one has to experience to fully comprehend. The influence of the Roman Empire, Dark Ages, The Renaissance, the many wars and so much more are what have shaped many of todayβs cultures. Religion has been a key influence in European history. Through all of it, including two major world wars, the people have maintained their unique cultures and held on to their rich heritage. I think it is such a powerful thing for Americans to experience.
We in the USA have such little history compared to the rest of the World. All of us tend to get wrapped-up into our own βlittle worldβ. Travel is the key to enabling us to step away and better understand how other people and civilizations live, what challenges they have faced and still face and more fully appreciate their history and cultures. This understanding really puts our own lives into perspective.
This is a great business we are in. We help others to have these types of experiences.Β For ourselves, Kris and I intend to take as many trips as possible to step outside of our comfort area and expand our understanding of other cultures and to more fully appreciate this wonderful World and all its history, culture and a variety of peoples.
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