Siddharth Saoji 
“Want to know the real reason to visit new places? Not for those Instagram-worthy shots (though let’s be honest, you’ll take them anyway), but to prove to your anxiety-riddled brain that it’s been lying to you all along!
Picture this: There you are, before your trip to a new place, sweating bullets over earth-shattering questions like ‘Will I accidentally order something inedible? Can I manage the currency without looking like I’m solving advanced calculus? What if my attempt at saying ‘hello’ in the local language somehow offends an entire village? The classic pre-travel jitters hit harder than that double espresso you definitely didn’t need.
But then — plot twist! — you actually get there and realize: Hey, you’re not completely hopeless at this whole ‘existing in a different place’ thing! The locals don’t run away screaming, your money successfully buys things, and somehow you’re still alive despite pronouncing every street name wrong. Miracle!
This transformation is powerful. Each successful journey expands your sense of what’s possible. The next time you consider traveling somewhere unfamiliar, you’ll approach it with confidence rather than anxiety. You’ll think, ‘I’ve done this before — I can do it again.’ This growing self-assurance is perhaps the most valuable souvenir you can bring home.
So next time you’re doing the ‘should I, shouldn’t I’ dance about visiting somewhere new, remember: You’re not just going on vacation — you’re going to give your inner worrier a masterclass in being wrong. And isn’t that worth the price of a plane ticket?