Eight reasons why you should travel now, especially in your 40s and beyond

However, there was one specific point in my life when I decided to stop putting travel off for, someday, or when I retire—my patients.

After being an ICU nurse for over 15 years, I worked with many people of all ages, and most did not have much time left. It inevitably leads to talking about what they wished they would have done more of, and when I asked for their advice, they always told me to follow my dreams and heart and travel as much as possible.

Most of them had plans of traveling, but it was not allowed, or they did not try hard enough. Most admitted to having the money but not having someone to go with them. They said I wish I would have gone alone and not been so scared.

So they encouraged me, and I want to do the same for you.

Six reasons why you should travel now.

There is no perfect time to start. So why not? Instead of someday, how about now, because you never know what the future holds.

To travel, most of us think it has to be perfect, the perfect time, the ideal amount of money, and healthy. However, you can not predict what will happen in the future. You may be healthy now but do not have enough money; you can volunteer or housesit.

Maybe you have two weeks off but no one to go with you, go alone. If you are healthy now, there is no guarantee you will be beneficial when you retire. Sometimes the perfect trifecta will never happen, so you have to make it happen, or it may never happen, and you will be one of my patients telling me your regrets one day.

The world is changing, and so are travel destinations.

I began traveling solo in 2014; I went to Bali, my dream destination. It was terrific; it was one of my favorite adventures and my first solo trip. However, I have not been back to Bali, and I most likely will never return to that island.

The build-up and what I have heard is happening to Bali is insane. The more remote workers we have they search out for the ocean and the surf, and the longer you wait to go to your dream destination, you may discover it is also a million other people's dream destination.

This means an increase in price and an increase in people, which is why I advocate off-the-beaten-path, but that, too, has become popular. So go now. You never know how popular it may get in a few months or even a year.

As well as, places have been limiting how many tourists can visit per year; for example, Machu Pichu has a limited number of 2500 tourists per day, and on the four-day Inca trail, there are only 50 permits a day, and 300 of the licenses are to guides and porters.

Travel makes you a more well-rounded individual.

This is a personal reason, but seeing how others live in the world makes you more empathetic and grateful for your situation. You might have been able to afford to travel to a country to see what it is like living with essentials only. It makes me feel more grounded and grateful in all areas of my life.

Travel improves your travel problem skills and helps you critical think.

When I first started traveling, I never imagined I would have to learn to communicate with someone who does not speak my language or how to navigate around a city without any wifi or reading the local language.

Travel has improved my inner navigational compass and made me think outside the box when finding solutions. Especially when you are on a budget, and the answer has to be something outside of ¨'ll pay someone to do it¨. Many people from the US have a mentality that we have to solve this issue without spending money, and it can be done.

Travel forces you outside of your comfort zone.

I was always a creature of habit. I liked to have the foods I ate and my shows on tv. Once I started traveling, I was forced to try new foods and get out of my shell to talk to people. I am social but struggle with starting conversations because I fear that no one will like me or think I am too old.

I have realized that no one cares. Usually, it was a false belief that I placed on myself. When you travel, you are all in the same situation, regardless of age. Away from home, trying to figure it out while having fun and exploring. It is possible.

Travel makes you realize how little you need to live.

Traveling to underdeveloped countries puts life into perspective. We don't need all the fancy devices we have, the newest phone, camera, or laptop. Most places I visit do not even have air conditioning, and yet they survive because they have to.

It has made me realize how much of a cacoon I lived in until I started seeing what the rest of the world is like and how they live. Now my entire life is inside one backpack, and I do not need much more than what I have on my back; I could do with less.

Traveling by default will increase your confidence.

You will be forced to come out of your shell to either make friends, talk to strangers, or ask for directions, and you will realize that it's not so scary after all, adapting and navigating at a moment's notice.

I know even in my late 30s, I struggled with confidence, and now that I know I have navigated the globe alone, doing the basics in life no longer terrifies me, as well as failing no longer scares me because I am confident it will eventually work out in the end, it takes time, but it always works out.

Travel impacts your life and worldview in a positive light.

When you travel, you realize that we are not all so different. We all have the same concerns: caring for our families, feeling love, and being surrounded by friends and family. It has helped me not to take family, friends, and stability for granted.

Life can change at a moment's notice, so instead of waiting for it to happen to you, take the bull by the horns and live your life to its fullest; after all, we only have one.

Traveling over 40, no, you are not too old.

Many of us women, especially if you are like me and single, childless, and career-oriented, are scared. We are afraid but what about my job, trust me it will be there when you return. We feel too old; I am doing it, and some days, yes, I feel like the mom of the group of 20s, but that has never been an issue.

Most of them I make friends with and encourage them to chase their dreams at any age. We are all the same when we are in the hostel rooms. No one judges; no one thinks you are old. Travel brings everyone together; some of us are lost, some chasing adventure, and some are even searching for a forever home.

When I turned 40, I thought I was done, but I am, three years later, still going. Do not let your age hold you back; you can be whoever you want when you travel.