I thought I could come up with a direct answer, but it turns out I can’t. In other words, I’m not sure why, but I know it’s stirred in me with increasing intensity over the years.

Critics say it’s a way to escape the world, to avoid commitments, and to simply have fun. With wanderlust, they say, nothing significant is accomplished. Further, some even claim wanderlust is caused by a specific gene (DRD4-7R).

Maybe I’m doing it wrong, but I have not seen these drawbacks when I give in to wanderlust. On the other hand, I do experience the benefits associated with it. Those benefits include:

  • An increased social network
  • An increase in openness, agreeableness, and emotional ability
  • Increased creativity.

With every new season in my life, the wanderlust that has always existed for me seems again amplified. I increasingly feel ready to expand my boundaries.