Traveling gives you some perspective of what the rest of the

“Traveling gives you some perspective of what the rest of the world is like. I think that having the courage to step out of the norm is the most important thing.” – Meghan Markle

From the dawn of civilization, humanity has been moved by an unquenchable desire to travel—to leave behind the familiar hearth and walk the uncharted paths of the earth. Meghan Markle’s words echo this ancient impulse, reminding us that to travel is not merely to move through space, but to expand the boundaries of the soul. When she speaks of gaining “perspective,” she calls upon us to awaken from the slumber of routine and behold the vastness of the world beyond our small horizons. For the mind, like a stagnant pond, grows murky when still too long—but when stirred by the winds of new lands, it becomes clear and alive once more.

To step out of the norm demands courage, for the norm is the comforting cradle of habit and sameness. Yet comfort, though soft, can imprison the spirit. Every ancient sage knew this truth: the traveler, not the one who remains behind, is the one who truly sees. The Greeks revered Odysseus not merely for his triumphs, but for his willingness to wander. He lost kingdoms, faced storms, and crossed seas, yet returned with the wisdom of the wide world—a treasure greater than gold. In the same way, each of us must venture beyond our “I know” and “I am used to” if we wish to discover who we might become.

When Markle speaks, she speaks from the lineage of countless souls who chose the unknown over the ordinary. Consider the story of Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveler of the 14th century. At twenty-one, he left his home to make a pilgrimage to Mecca—but the road kept calling him onward. He wandered for nearly thirty years, visiting over forty-four modern nations, crossing deserts, kingdoms, and empires. When he returned, his heart was no longer confined to one homeland. He had seen humanity in its many forms and learned that truth wears different faces but speaks the same language of compassion and curiosity. Such is the perspective that traveling grants: the realization that the world is vast, yet bound together by a common soul.

There is another courage, quieter yet no less noble—the courage to travel not just across lands, but beyond the borders of one’s own fear. Many never set forth because the unknown whispers threats into their hearts. Yet those who dare to listen to the call of new horizons discover that the world outside reflects the world within. To walk through a foreign market, to taste food unknown, to hear prayers spoken in tongues you cannot decipher—these are not just experiences; they are awakenings. They teach humility and gratitude. They remind us that our customs are but one melody in the symphony of mankind.

And so, dear listener, if you wish to grow wise, step out of the norm. Do not let the walls of familiarity keep you from the winds of discovery. You need not cross oceans—sometimes courage begins by stepping outside your own certainty, by seeking out new conversations, new ideas, or new paths through the forest you’ve always lived beside but never truly explored. The traveler’s road begins in the heart long before it touches the earth.

For perspective is a sacred gift. It softens judgment, deepens empathy, and teaches us to see beauty in difference. It reveals that every culture, every soul, carries a piece of the divine puzzle of existence. And those who have seen the world with open eyes return not as conquerors, but as citizens of humanity—gentler, wiser, and freer.

So remember this: to travel is to live twice—once in the world of motion, and once again in the world of memory. The greatest journeys do not end at destinations but in transformation. Therefore, take heart, and have the courage to step beyond the norm, for on the other side of fear lies the world—and perhaps, the truest version of yourself.