THE WANDELUST GENE

“Is our desire to travel more like a natural talent?”

That's a question “wandering” in my mind for a while now. 

 

Do we come to this planet with this urge and the ability to adapt to any changes or is it something you grow fond of during the course of your life? Some say that they loved a change of pace since they were kids, while others claim to be lovers of an everyday routine, choosing to follow a “Home, sweet home” philosophy over an “out-of-their-backyard”, unknown world.

 

Is it easy to detect though?

 

As a recent scientific research has showed, the strong desire of a person to travel –also known as wanderlust- is a matter of DNA. The DRD4-7R gene is the one scientists call the “wanderlust gene”; according to them, is the one that actually activates the levels of curiosity, the urge for change, to seek new risks and adventures – for a getaway. 

 

You are basically born with the wanderlust gene.

 

But is it that easy to trace this specific gene in your own DNA? Should we take our lives as an example, we’ll come up with some pretty interesting results. Because there are two kinds of people; those who had the desire to travel and made their dreams come true by following their wanderlust – just like myself. And then, there's a different category. Those who share the same love of traveling but didn't get the chance to see their getaway dreams come alive.

Traveling is a luxury for certain people – although I strongly believe the contrary.

 

The family environment plays a decisive part  in developing this gene. Parents above all, play the most significant part as they can be the beginning of everything, in my opinion. They’ll have to do it as hard as it may sound – and I know it is, given the fact that my parents went through the same thing.

They have to let their kid free to follow what he or she loves, explore its own path. Or by help it leave the house later, choose its own studies or a different place to live, meet a whole new world, take risks and get in touch with the unknown. This kind of liberation helps to create new instincts.

 

And that’s what traveling is all about.

The wanderlust gene is in fact, the curiosity gene, the gene of getaway and the need to escape. I’m quite sure that each and every one of us, deep down, has this gene – some hadn't had the chance to properly develop it. You can grow into it though; just seek inspiration and the reason that will push you into starting to travel!

 

Science is able to explain the love of traveling by discovering a gene. Me, on the other side, I am able to explain my love of traveling by discovering the world. And if you didn't have the chance to travel and happen to see this research, don't get discouraged thinking you lack this gene; maybe you got it and just don't know it yet. Look for it. Discover it.

 

Getting away doesn't specifically translate into “I leave everything behind, pick up my backpack and leave” neither wandering means “I wander around for a good three months without a care in the world”. It would be great if this was even possible. Getting away and wandering is a matter of personal choices – you can draw inspiration from the “nomads” of traveling but you gotta adjust it to your personal preferences and life.

 

No one can say that you lack the gene. Even if someone does, your first getaway will be proof to them. So just let all these researches be just to confirm the rules and go make your exception; pack your bags and start traveling today, tomorrow, any time soon.

 

The DRD4-7R conscious traveler. Are you? I definitely am.