Becoming a wife or a husband is a process and that involves getting to know yourself, your wants and what you personally will contribute to your relationship. So, singles should find every opportunity to grow themselves as individuals. While there are a number of ways to work on you, one of my favorites is through traveling.

Over the past several years of traveling for both business and leisure, I realized that it’s so necessary to travel in your single season. Below are four reasons why you should travel more as a single in preparation for marriage.

 

You discover new things about yourself

Whether it’s a road trip or an international getaway, you will without a doubt learn something new about yourself. Taking yourself out of your natural element forces you to make choices in which you normally never have to weigh. Travel compels you to adopt the “When in Rome” mentality, which often challenges what you thought you knew about yourself.

When I went to Barbados on a recent vacation with a friend, I learned more about what I liked in terms of entertainment and activities. As you mature, your definitions of adventure and relaxation may change, but it’s always good to get out there and test it for yourself. What new likes and dislikes are you discovering along the way? Those get highlighted when you travel because you’re using your mind in a different environment.

You get some culture

Some of the worst things a single can bring to a date are poor conversation skills. Having experience in travel will most definitely widen your range of topics and knowledge of different cultures, foods, news and more. Visit places that you’ve always wanted to see before you get married, and not just the typical American tourist spots. Sharing your experiences in travel reveal your interests and maybe even your passions. It also gives you a different perspective on how other people live, making you a more understanding and well-rounded person—a person someone would want to get to know.

You learn not to treat life as a routine

Life is more than paying bills. As a single, you have more freedom to take breaks from routines in life and shake things up. Spontaneity and willingness to try something outside of the norm can be romantic and adventurous, both things you’d want to have in marriage. Get started this year by planning a vacation to somewhere off the beaten path or take a vacation during a different time of the year. I took a vacation during winter to a warmer climate, and I now see that going in the colder months gave me a much-needed break away from work/life stress. Keep this in mind if you’re single during the winter holidays like Christmas, New Year’s and next Valentine’s Day. By planning your own singles holiday getaway, you can enjoy life and avoid the winter blues.

Travel makes you more flexible

Have a hard time releasing control of things in your life? Then book a flight today. Seasoned travelers inevitably realize not everything will go as planned because life happens. Flights get delayed or cancelled, people get sick and funds drain low unexpectedly. And traveling with another person will definitely test your flexibility, which is needed for the changes in life that will affect your marriage.

Being stuck in your ways is rigid and played out. In travel, you’ll learn to be more flexible and to not stress if things are not 100 percent perfect because they never will be.

I have to admit, my last travel experience fulfilled all of these reasons above. Seeing it all with more mature eyes, I look forward to traveling more before I get married because I can’t wait to experience these life lessons when someone comes into my life. Perhaps God wants you to learn these along your single journey as well. Now, where next?

Hey, BMWK fam, what’s one benefit of traveling as a single?