Counting visited countries became “a thing” just a few years ago and has increasingly been something many have latched on to. Visiting, exploring, creating adventures, and moving abroad to countries around the world is a great thing especially when we make a positive difference in the lives of others both from our native countries and local communities we choose to visit or live.
While it is good and advantageous to set goals for our individual aspirations, I personally see where some of the country counting is becoming either a competition or keeping up with the Jones’. Again, I believe that we should all set our goals and take action to achieve these goals within our travel lifestyle and moving abroad, but we should not set our goals to compete with others or feel like we must keep up with the Jones’.
When we intentionally, authentically, and organically set-forth to plan and achieve our personal goals, it’s a good thing. When doing so, we’re able to achieve and receive what we want to get from our travels and are happy with it. When we chase after other’s goals or try to keep up with them, then we are not being genuine about our own goals and aspirations.
Am I saying that we shouldn’t go to destinations that others present as travel influencers, bloggers, and travel consultants / coaches? Of course not. I am in that group within the travel industry myself and encourage and inspire others to travel for their goals and purposes.
Keep in mind, as travel influencers, consultants, coaches, and agents we want people to travel and be exposed to the joys of travel and be mindful and aware in your travels. However, like anything else in the world, we must pay attention to the actions we take and ensure that we are being genuine to ourselves and not just seeking to follow every shiny object and opportunity that is presented to us. This includes counting countries and attempting to compete when there really isn’t a competition.
While there are travel and social media influencers who also utilize the platforms to entice and get others to join into the counting countries arena, it’s usually not being done to elevate themselves, however I’ve seen some chase after what others are able to do when they aren’t positioned to do so and often find themselves in a quandary.
Now, do I track and keep records of how many countries and continents I’ve visited for my own travel goals and to utilize for business reasons. Of course I do! Simply because they are my goals and bucket-list items. However, I typically don’t announce how many countries or destinations I’ve been to unless someone asks or for business purposes.
I’m bringing up this topic of “Counting Countries” because I’ve seen it turn more into a competitive space at times instead of using for collaboration, partnership, knowledge, and education for others. This can be unhealthy, and I wouldn’t want anyone to stress themselves out creating a narrative of having to create or keep up with a goal that really isn’t of personal interest to you other than competing. Of course, this does not mean that everyone who communicates the number of countries visited or lived in is doing it on a competitive basis, however others are.
Then there are those that feel like they must keep up with the Jones’ and meet or exceed the number of countries that others have visited. Again, I love to travel, and I do know and communicate these numbers from time to time as well, but never as a competition or for someone to feel like they must do what I and others are doing regarding our travel goals.
Honestly, I have no intention of visiting every country. I only want to visit countries that are of interest to me. I’m not saying that my plans or goals may not change in the future, as they may….but at this time, it is not a personal goal of mine. Neither is competing with others with the number of countries visited.
However, I do applaud those who genuinely, authentically, and organically have goals to visit every country, every continent, or a subset thereof. It was always an interest of mine since a young child to place my feet on all 7 continents during my lifetime. I’ve been on six of the seven with Antarctica being the last and final continent that I need to visit.
In recent years, I’ve vacillated with being alright if I don’t make it to Antarctica, yet it creeps up in my mind and when I see opportunities to go I’m always contemplating. I’ll be interesting for me if I do make this lifelong goal and satisfy my inner self with achieving what I’ve always wanted to do since a young child by literally having step foot on every continent.
I say all of this to say, there’s nothing wrong with counting countries, just don’t get caught up with thinking or believing that you must do it to keep up with others are doing thereby secretly competing. Always remember, everyone’s goal should not be your goal. Establish your travel, living abroad and borderless goals that are suitable for you whether you openly share the numbers or not. Spend more time enjoying the destinations you visit and create spectacular experiences instead of thinking or feeling like you must run a marathon to get to as many countries as others.
Personally, I’ve been to several countries multiple times and enjoy the destination and what I do or experience there which is of great importance to me. Some may say that I feel the way that I do because I haven’t visited all the countries of the world. Again, it doesn’t matter to me as I’d rather enjoy the countries I choose to visit and spend time in with the people, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, landscape and more. But that’s me. Again, each person should do what is comfortable for them.
So, for the record and for those that want or need to know, during the time of writing this post I’ve visited 51 countries and have been on 6 continents. I’ve been to several countries and continents multiple times and enjoy my experiences and the people.
What do you think about counting countries? What have you noticed or seen in this world of social media, online or in person in travel and tourism during the last few years?
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