You’re sitting at your computer and in one click your life seems instantly better. Your heart flutters as you see those four magical words flash across the screen: your flight is booked. It’s real now and happiness permeates your soul.
Now comes one of the best parts; planning. You spend countless mindless hours happily scouring through hundreds of hotels, apartments, and trip advisor reviews. The anticipation is now all-consuming and you exude a happiness that is visible on the outside. People notice a difference in your attitude.
The time has finally come, the moment you’ve been waiting for. The pinnacle of your joy, with a full body serotonin surge, your much-anticipated trip is finally happening.
You spend your time in pure bliss enjoying every aspect of your day, seemingly unaware that this temporary heightened happiness won’t last forever. Can life get any better than at this exact moment? You’re on a high that you don’t think will ever end.
Towards the end of your blissful vacation, you feel something looming like a dark cloud. There’s a shift in your energy. Reality sets in that this isn’t real life, merely a vacation, and all too soon you will have to depart this wonderful dream and go back to your less impressive everyday life.
You’re on a downward spiral of sadness from the moment you start packing, reaching your rock bottom that Monday at work. You feel lethargic, depressed, and unmotivated to do anything else.
You sit at your desk daydreaming about the better days, wishing you were there, wondering if you’ll ever be happy like that again; but you know the answer to that. You’ll only be happy again when you have another trip to look forward to. That’s it! The drug you’ve been craving; another trip. It doesn’t matter what the trip is whether it is a one night jaunt or a three-week long adventure; you need it and now.
The definition of addiction is ‘The fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity’. Can travel become an actual addiction?
When it consumes your days, constant thoughts, and every extra penny you earn isn’t that an addiction? Just like a junkie looking for the next high once we experience the high of traveling we cannot stop and are in constant need of it. The thrill of a new place or adventure is what gives our lives excitement.
I once read a quote that has stuck with me; “Travel is the healthiest addiction”. I believe it could be a form of addiction but what you see, learn, and experience while traveling only changes you for the better. You become a well-rounded person who embraces life with a new perspective of understanding and love for all. Although my pockets might be light, my heart is full, and I will continue this addiction with all of my being.
Hi my name is Akeye n I’m an addict