What does traveling mean?
Let’s start by saying thattravelingisn’t just about moving from one place to another with the destination as the sole goal. But let’s look at the etymology of the word to truly understand what it means travel.
The etymology of the term journey is Latin; in fact, it derives from the termviaticus, meaning“that which pertains to the road,”orfrom its neuter formviaticum, which refers specifically to everything the traveler carried with them to survive during the journey.
In short, ajourneyis not simply a move from one place to another, but a way of life, a project that fully engages our existence. We carry our cultural baggage and our resources with us, drawing on them along the way to complete our growth and evolution as we travel.
Travelingmeans taking yourself seriously, facing yourself in different and unfamiliar places. You put yourself to the test as a human being who has decided not to remain stagnant in life. But fear not! Travel is liberation, it is joy, it is novelty; it is leaving the past behind to discover your future—a future you choose to build with new insights, with a mind cleansed of the burden of information accumulated through stagnation.
So what are you waiting for?! Set off! Not just to get somewhere, but to discover yourself through the journey, the experiences, and the life that onlytravelcan offer.
“In twenty years’ time, you won’t be disappointed by the things you’ve done, but by the things you haven’t done. So weigh anchor, leave the safe harbors behind, and catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
– Mark Twain
Article by Andrea Mariani