An Important Piece of Life Advice for the Young
I spend a lot of time interviewing older people in my research. In one project, I asked them the question: “What can young people do to avoid having regrets when they come to the end of life?” One of the most important messages they have for younger people is to travel—and to do it now.
An old woman once told me that among the most regretful elders she knows are those who put off travel until it was too late—a mistake she almost made if it had not been for her husband. Her husband said, "I'm not waiting until I retire. Who knows what things will be like then?"
So, here's a clear opportunity to avoid a future regret: travel now, while you have time and energy. This message comes from some who delayed travel until it was too late. One 86-year-old lady I talked to had lived close to home. With a sad look in her eyes, she told me: “I always wanted to go to Hawaii, but I never made it. Oh, it's too late for me.”
I can hear some people saying: That's all well and good, but how can we afford it?The elders counter that argument by saying that travel is so rewarding that it should take precedence over other things younger people spend money on. The key is travel's value specifically for the young; it broadens their horizons, helps them to find a focus for their lives, and challenges them in new ways.
Of course, travel is by no means only for the young. Seeing the world is also important in the middle 30 years and the last 30 years. Travel is just that important to feeling like your life has been well-lived.