When I first went away in 2006, people always wished they could do what I was doing. For some people it is easy to just jump ship and travel. Others just need a gentle nudge. For me, all it took was a trip to Thailand before I was quitting my job and telling my friends I was going to travel. For others it is a lot harder. They are more tied down, more afraid, more uncertain. They want to do it but, instead of the nudge I needed, they need a full on push. So here is my push. Here are seven good reasons to travel around the world:

There’s a recession. With the world economy in a tailspin and companies slashing jobs, there is a lot of economic uncertainty. Avoid it all. Go travel. If you quit your job, sell your stuff and travel, you won’t have to worry about it. In fact, prices are dropping as the tourist industry tries harder to get people to go overseas. Come back when the economy is better.

It’s better than working. Working is work. Sitting behind a desk for eight hours, commuting to work, worrying about bosses and reports is not our idea of a good time. Let’s face it, between worrying about next month’s budget or sitting on a beach in Asia, everyone would choose the beach. So why are you behind your desk?

It’s not as expensive as you think. Everyone thinks that traveling is expensive but it’s not. You can travel quiet cheaply by flying low cost airlines, staying in hostels, or with locals who offer you their home. The locals don’t spend a fortune in their own city.

You learn about yourself. Travel helps you figure out what makes you you and what you really like or dislike. Forced to fend for yourself, it is do or die. You have to adapt to your surroundings, meet other people, make your own decisions, and plan your life.

You meet a lot of people. There is not a day that doesn’t go by where you don’t meet people doing the same thing you are. You’ll meet locals who will take you around and open their homes and city to you. What more can you ask for in life than meeting wonderful people and creating a network of friends that encompasses the globe. You’ll meet so many people you’ll wish you had some time to yourself.

You learn about other cultures. The world is a big place and globalization has made it much more complex and interconnected. You’ll never begin to understand all the other players in the world or why people do what they do by sitting at home. Traveling will make other cultures and people more than just a face on the news.

You’ll make everyone jealous. Let’s face it- everyone wants to travel the world but few people do. Do it and make everyone at home jealous of you, your stories, and your photos. While they work all day, you explore the world. They’ll regret asking you how your day was after you tell them what you did.