Wanderlust: Is It A Sickness And Do You Have It?

Doctor, I've got this itch, you see...

Have you ever wondered what it would like to be in another place at a particular moment in time? Do you ever get urges to travel or to simply escape from the drudgeries of home? If so, you may have a case of wanderlust. (That's the medical diagnosis, of course... completely legit).

What is Wanderlust?

To put it simply, wanderlust is a desire to travel. But the substance of wanderlust is much deeper than that, and words alone don’t fully capture its essence the way experiences do. I guess it’s kind of like love in that sense...

Where Does “Wanderlust” Come From?

Most experts claim that the term originates from a combination of the German words wandern (to hike) and lust (desire). A spirit of adventurous traveling was gradually associated with wanderlust because of various influences, including the quest for beauty common to German Romanticism and the tradition of young adults seeking unity with Nature, as well as opposing the status quo in the early 1900s.

Nowadays, wanderlust typically refers to a desire not just to travel from one location to another, but also engage with other cultures.

So Do You Have Wanderlust???

With advancements in technology making travel as convenient as it is, wanderlust has been spreading as quickly as the common cold in recent years. Unlike a virus — thank goodness! — wanderlust is easy to diagnose, easy to treat, and in no way harmful.

On the contrary, wanderlust actually helps rejuvenate the body, and if you can live in the moment and embrace that journey, restore the soul. The temporary “cure” for wanderlust is simple, fun, and often enlightening — travel.

Yep. That’s it. If you feel sick of familiar surroundings or are itching for new experiences or want to encounter different people and perspectives, all you need to do is travel.

One of the main complications with the whole business is that wanderlust doesn’t seem to have a permanent fix. It often comes back several months, if not days, after finishing up a trip. For some people, wanderlust is an awesome motivating force. It keeps you excited about traveling, and traveling, in turn, keeps you excited about life.

Suppose you want to get this Wanderlust bug...

If wanderlust hasn’t hit you yet, try talking to others who have traveled with intention. By that I mean to say spend time with people who went on a trip with a goal in mind, even if it was just to have fun, and came back loving the experience.

Here a few tricks to ignite that wanderlust fire:

• Listen to the stories of others affected by it
• Read travel and adventure blogs
• Watch travel videos
• Talk to people from other cultures and countries
• Pay attention to things happening around the world
• and of course, keep a close eye on our blog right here!

Whether you call it wanderlust, itchy feet, a great mileage plan, or something else entirely, satisfying a desire to travel is a worthwhile venture that can alter the course of your life forever. Just try it out, if you don’t believe me.

Looking to join up with some like-minded wanderlusters? You should definitely be a part of our community, For The Love Of Travel! Check us out, we can't wait to get to know you and your adventures!