My parents got divorced when I was 7. Two decades later, I realize that what I learned from divorce made me a better traveler.
It’s been two decades since my parents divorced and a decade since I started traveling internationally. There’s a lot to be said about the way a child’s brain develops, and I know very little about any of it. What I do know is that I’m a better traveler because of my parent’s divorce.
Let Me Explain:
My family of four lived in a town of about 3,000 people in Iowa until I was 7. My dad stayed there, and my mom, brother, and I moved to a metro of about 380,000 people.
Every other weekend and for a month in summers, we’d trek across the state and hang out in the small town with our dad. We’d spend those weekends going on hikes and playing hide and seek in forests and camping before going back to the city.
The city was home, but those weekends and months in the summer were adventure.
I remember going to 5th-grade camp with a group from school. We were prepped, as were the parents, for how to do it. How to camp, what to expect, and what it would be like to be away from home. It’s probably the first time I realized that my parents’ divorce helped me with ‘life stuff’. Where was the challenge that these kids saw?
Then, when I was 16, I saved up to go on the French Club trip to France. We’d be away for 18 days total. Immediately after I returned, my family was going to visit my aunt in Boston, so I’d be away from home for about 4 weeks straight. About a week into my trip, my roommate for the night called home and burst out in tears. I remember thinking, ‘she already misses her family? Weird.’
Travel Lessons I Learned From Divorce:
- What I didn’t realize then was that I became stronger because of the time I spent away from my parents – I was always away from one of them. I could spend a weekend or month away and be okay.
- During all of that traveling back and forth, my little brother became my constant. We’re still best friends.
- Professionally, I went on to become successful in my sales roles because of my ability to build relationships over the phone.
- As a traveler, I am used to traveling often and far. I’m really good at road trips because of the 8+ hours per weekend that we spent going back and forth.
- I can channel the energy it takes to miss someone into adoration.
What about you? What life event has most affected your travels?