Why You Should Live Abroad At Least Once In Your Lifetime

Living abroad is something many of us dream about, but as with most dreams, they don’t extend far into our reality. This is a shame, because if money isn’t an obstacle, and if you have a yearning to expand your horizons, then you really should make living abroad part of your agenda - whether you go for a short time or take root and live somewhere for longer.

If you need incentive, consider the following advantages living abroad could give you:

• It will transform who you are, making you stronger, and giving you a new life perspective. You will have to be resourceful, so while there are challenges to living abroad, you will develop skills that will change your life forever.

• You will have many new opportunities. Whether you travel alone or with family, new experiences can be found that won’t be available in many other places. You will see new things, meet new people, and explore new tastes, both literally with the different foods you can try, and symbolically, as you begin to develop an appetite for experiences you may never have embarked on before. Young and old can benefit from an international education, and doors may be opened career-wise that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

• Your health will benefit. Okay, so there may be some stresses in the transition, but ultimately, we think you will benefit both emotionally and physically. Particularly when you move to sunnier climes, there are all the health benefits of being out in the sunshine and fresh air. And despite the challenges, you may benefit by being away from the stresses in your home country, especially when you move somewhere with a more peaceful lifestyle.

• It’s a second chance at life. We aren’t saying your life needs a complete do-over, but moving overseas will give you a chance to wipe the slate clean, especially in those areas where you have made mistakes. As you will be a new face in a new country, you can start relationships and build friendships with people who are unaware of your 'past life', and you can begin to let go and forgive yourself by starting a new chapter where you can literally start all over again.

• Your life will mean something. Okay, so your life already means something, but if you’re stuck in a routine - a 9 to 5 job, few friends, little passion for life - then by moving abroad, you will be able to shake things up a little (or a lot), renew your vigour for life, gain a sense of excitement and purpose, and have interesting stories to tell your children and grandchildren later on in your life.

• You may become a nicer person. We aren’t saying you’re a horrible person, but if you are materialistic and selfish in some of your attitudes, then a change will do you good. By moving abroad, you may have to rely less on material things, and by gaining a new perspective on life and the way other people live, you may also become more caring in the way you interact with the world.

So, what do you think? Could you live abroad? It’s not as scary as you think (once you have escaped your fear of flying), and the benefits far outweigh the reasons not to try it at least once in your lifetime. It’s not for everybody, but if you have ever had the urge for 'something else’ in your life, and if you have ever been on vacation and wished you could stay for longer, then perhaps living abroad is right for you.

#Travel #Lifestyle #livingabroad