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Sometimes our wonderful world can seem like a scary place. The travel news that we being fed by our gadgets often paints a disproportionally and biased terrifying picture. Technology has made our world more connected , yet more isolated than ever before.

Instead of using the internet to seek out data that expands our knowledge and understanding, too often we search for information that bolsters our prejudices and fears. Politicians and other people know this flaw and utilize it to control and manipulate our actions in ways that favor them.

Once beliefs, even false ones are in place that have taken hold, it can be difficult to take in new information that challenge those beliefs. It can be difficult to confront preconceptions and ideas. For me, one of the most effective ways to overcome false information about the world is to travel.

Travel is the remedy for our anxieties

It is common to be overwhelmed and even more anxious when we are unfamiliar with or aren’t sure about the meaning of something. If I hear someone who aren’t travelers, talking about their fears regarding distant locations, I like to ask them how they formed their opinion. It is usually based on old travel news stories, friend of a friend anecdotes or politically motivated tales created to push agendas.

It is rare to meet someone who is scared of travel and it’s more uncommon to meet a person who grows more fearful as they gain experience. This is a definite sign.

Yes, there are areas all over the world that are inadvisable to go to, such as conflicts and disaster zones however they are tiny. It is easy to blame strangers. It’s harder to demonize friends. Travel News of traveling, learning about the world and interacting with people helps reduce the risk that areas of conflict could spread.

When you travel, you realize quickly that it’s not wise to put people into categories and that the cartoonish images that others ascribe to other nations are often wrong. In reality, when you witness someone blatantly demonizing any group they do not know well this says more about the accuser rather than the one being accused.

Traveling is a great way to discover that people of all cultures have the same basic desires and aspirations we have. Sure, their appearances on the outside are often very different. Different Gods are worshipped or none even exist. Different cultures dress differently and follow various languages and practices. Certain cultures are more social than others. However, every culture loves their children and are proud of their history. They also aim to improve their families and leave an enduring legacy.

Travel challenges our beliefs and allows us to see better ways to achieve positive results.

In its definition “news” is something that is unusual or doesn’t happen very often. This is why, even within our borders, worst stories are the ones we hear about, and the positive ones aren’t reported. Because the world is focused on the negative, we should not only see it for ourselves but also serve as ambassadors for the positive things in our country.

You’ll be better educated when you travel to far places and leave the comfort zone that you have built around yourself. This is good for both the earth and yourself.

Freedom is something we talk about and often do not exercise. Doing nothing but waving flags and repeating pledges is not freedom. Freedom is the ability to critically analyze and evaluate your situation and then take actions.