We have not traveled much together during our four years of marriage. (Thanks, pandemic + school.) We dream of doing more, though. The more that God allows us to do, the more we value our time together.
Travel takes us out of our normal environment. In this way, it removes some of the things that traditionally take up our time: work, chores, projects around the house, etc. Travel encourages us to engage in our surroundings, rather that get distracted by our computers, phones, televisions, and other electronics. In this way, travel helps us to be present and connect more with each other.
Another benefit of travel is the creation of new experiences. Sharing experiences together helps shape our identity as a couple. It also helps us form new memories together, memories to which we can refer back at later times with fondness.
Travel, while it has its stresses, also relieves stress. Depending on how we do it, there are less dishes, less travel, less real life decisions that we have to make. If we pay our bills before we go and have set a reasonable budget for travel, we are able to avoid money talk for a while. Relief of stress benefits our relationship. It leaves more room for the good things to grow.
Travel can also help us discover new things. A 2012 study found that couples who travel together are more likely to share interests and pursue hobbies together (US Travel Association). Travel and shared interests can promote positive communication, which benefits marriage as a whole even outside travel season (Pace, n.d.). Travel and its new experiences also bring out new and different aspects of one another, things that couples want to know about one another (Hart, 2023). Travel is good for marriage, for more reasons than couples realize, until they start doing it.
Marriage commits us to traveling through life together. It also gives us opportunity to travel to new places, both in the world, and in our relationship. Traveling is special, so let's make the best of it, for our marriages, and for our world!
References:
Hart, B. (2023, May 12). 8 reasons to travel as a couple, before and after marriage. Seven Corners. https://www.sevencorners.com/blog/travel-tips/reasons-to-travel-after-marriage
Pace, R. (n.d.). 6 tips for traveling with your spouse. The Grit and Grace Project. https://thegritandgraceproject.org/relationships/6-tips-for-traveling-with-your-spouse
US Travel Association. (2012). Travel strengthens relationship and ignites romance. https://www.ustravel.org/sites/default/files/media_root/5.2015_Relationship_ExecSummary.pdf
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