Can travel heal a broken heart? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

girlmeetsworld · 07-22-2008, 08:06 PM

So my ex decided to rip out my heart, put it in a blender then proceed to drink it as a smoothie... It's now been 2 and a half months since we broke up, although I don't want him back AT ALL after what he did to me, I am unfortunately finding it very difficult to get over him, but I know these things take time.

I plan on leaving for the UK/Europe to live for at least a year shortly and would love to hear some uplifting tales of the (formerly) broken-hearted who have been in a similar situation.

**pinknic38** · 07-22-2008, 08:23 PM

Well I was in a little conundrum where I told a guy I was in love with him and then heard nothing for several weeks, but the find out he feels similar but we can't be together because of our work positions, and I was kind of a mess, and this all unfolded before I left for my Eurotrip. I kind of kept to myself for a good bit of it because I used the trip to think/feel/whatever. I had a lot on my mind and as I was sitting on the train or hanging out somewhere, I thought a lot and came back home with a clearer head. I wouldn't say I am over the whole thing of course, but I do feel better and do have perspective.

That's what I would say. Travel won't mend a broken heart - it may provide you with some uh... "space fillers" if you will (hehe if you're looking for a hookup anyway) but it certainly gives you perspective.

**Somnambulation** · 07-22-2008, 08:29 PM

Haha, "space fillers"

In my opinion travel is the best possible thing to mend a broken heart. Not that Ive ever had the need for that, but it put you in a new enviroment with a different outlook and you find you forget about life back home in no time.

girlmeetsworld · 07-22-2008, 09:04 PM

haha space fillers I like that. Random hookups would be fantastic however I can't physically bring myself to do it!! I'm more of a kiss slut. I really hope to get over that when I'm there though!

**travelpunk** · 07-22-2008, 09:32 PM

Heart broken for years > dry spell for over a year > backpack Europe for a month > eyes opened > soul enlightened > heart break over/dry spell way gone > married > baby coming.

...Yes. It can

!

girlmeetsworld · 07-22-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelpunk

Heart broken for years > dry spell for over a year > backpack Europe for a month > eyes opened > soul enlightened > heart break over/dry spell way gone > married > baby coming.

...Yes. It can

!

Thankyou!! You have made me a very happy girl. Glad to know there is hope. And congratulations on the marriage and bump!!

Dry spell for a year!! dear god. I'm not sure I could handle that, you are a stronger person than I!

**travelpunk** · 07-22-2008, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by girlmeetsworld

Thankyou!! You have made me a very happy girl. Glad to know there is hope. And congratulations on the marriage and bump!!

Dry spell for a year!! dear god. I'm not sure I could handle that, you are a stronger person than I!

Thank you

! Yeah, this sites nucleus was born from that first life altering trip, so it changed me in more ways than I could have imagined.

Dry spells suck, fo sheezie...But I suppose the internet had a big part in lessening that blow...

**TheJake** · 07-22-2008, 11:21 PM

Stop in arizona on your way to the UK chica. I have some tried and proven methods I can share...

Seriously though traveling is the best medicine for whatever ails me.

**expatben** · 07-23-2008, 01:24 AM

I have never travelled specifically to get over someone but I will say that travelling has always given me a new view of the world and life and therefor would reccomend it.

**Delaney** · 07-23-2008, 10:29 AM

I would say nothing but time can heal a broken heart but travelling really helps. I went on a road trip (Thanks Mushroom!)after a big, sad breakup and it made me smile again. Also, kissing other people really does help. Even if you need a little liquid courage to get to that point

**voyd** · 07-23-2008, 02:20 PM

Well, travelling has also been known for breaking people up...so why not mending hearts as well? Out with the old, in with the new. It's all related...lol.

Otherwise, for more quicker results, there are also various other tricks that can help a lot too.

**kiwichick** · 07-23-2008, 09:34 PM

hey!hmmm my 2 cents and then some..
it took me a longtime to get over my ex and we kept sorta getting back together and what not, but my trip to europe gave me the space to move on. travelling just opens your eyes to bigger and brighter things, plus u get a better perspective of yourself so even though i would still vote that its time that heals a broken heart, travel sure as shit makes it easier in the meanwhile

**simply_angelic** · 07-23-2008, 09:53 PM

Fo Shizzle! (haha I just like saying that)

But in all seriousness, travel can definitely heal a broken heart. You meet so many amazing (and hot) guys whilst abroad with common interests, etc that you tend to realise you're not so into the ex as you thought. In fact I'm currently dating a guy I met in South Africa. The long distance thing sucks (he's about a 10-12 hr drive away from me) but he's one of the sweetest, most down to earth guys I've ever met (and it doesn't hurt that he has a rockin bod

).

Also, and more importantly I find you tend to discover a lot about yourself that you didnt already know while you travel. And nothing can heal a broken heart faster than learning to be more comfortable and gaining strength in yourself.

Good luck! I guarantee you, that by the end of your trip, you will have moved on. Sure, you might reminisce every once in a while as we all tend to do, but you will know in your heart that you are better off because you're not with that guy. And you will feel more secure as yourself.

Thetraveler · 07-24-2008, 02:33 AM

Traveling definitely helps! I went on a quick trip to Central America after a relationship ended (nothing to serious but enough to make you upset that it happened). But once you are on the road and traveling you tend to forget about life back home, you have other things on your mind and just enjoying being away and somewhere totally different from what is the norm.

Not to mention you meet smokin hot guys, have some fun. I am actually making a stop in Norway on my upcoming Europe trip to see a said "hot guy"/dive partner from my last trip. Should be a good time

**blinkchick2134** · 07-24-2008, 08:16 AM

SA, the guy you're dating doesn't happen to live in the US does he? I have a friend from South Africa and that's about a 10 hour drive or so - small world if it is.

As for travel to cure a broken heart, I think it depends on you. You could travel the world and see everything you've dreamed of but still feel like shit. But you could also meet some awesome people on the plane/bus to your destination and end up forgetting all about whats-his-name. I had a break up while I was traveling in Central America last year and sometimes I'm completely over it and sometimes I'm not. And I've been traveling solo since then. Time really is the only thing that heals the heart and traveling makes time fly...so it could only help!

**simply_angelic** · 07-24-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkchick2134

SA, the guy you're dating doesn't happen to live in the US does he? I have a friend from South Africa and that's about a 10 hour drive or so - small world if it is.

He does actually live in the US (NJ) but he's not FROM south africa. We only just met there. He's an american...

**DC_Jessica** · 07-24-2008, 05:58 PM

I dumped the shit out of the guy I'm dating now immediately before I went to Israel. He messed up big time and begged to have me back, I guess to reconcile before we went away but I told him that nobody changes their attitude that quickly. I told him while I was out of the country I had no boyfriend, he wasn't allowed to pick me up at the airport, and if I felt like talking to him again after I got back, I'd let him know. Also, to be extra bitchy, I told him that I'd have my roommate give him a call in case "anything happened."

I think it gave me instant closure (though we got back together after I put him through the ringer a little more) because I was in sensory overload, and also getting hit on constantly (though dumping an Arab for cultural reasons and then being surrounded by men who remind you of him trying to be the exotic "bedu" jumping the American tourists got really old...I took my aggression out on them as well!).

It will give you closure. Space fillers - even if you don't do anything at all with them - are nice for attention and flattery. In my case it was like, "well, you screwed up, and now you get to wonder if I'm ok or even thinking about you for a month, so sit on that and twirl while I have exotic adventures and revel in my life without you." I know in your case you're done, but it's pretty spectacular to "end" a relationship by going out of the country. Because the d-bag you're leaving behind is going to work every day and you're OUT OF THE COUNTRY!!!!

PS I know "great" love is the exception but it's better to travel single! You're going to have the time of your life, and even if he didn't frappe your heart, you're better off free as a bird for this experience!

**kiwichick** · 07-24-2008, 08:39 PM

ahahaha thats brutal..

...and yet just quietly i luv it

bobfossil · 07-31-2008, 09:03 PM

most definitely it heals a broken heart! i had so much fun while i was overseas, i was constantly busy exploring new places and meeting new people that i didn't even think about my ex back at home at all.

jennynwilko · 08-12-2008, 03:25 AM

I met my current boyfriend two years ago in a tiny hostel in Budapest- i woke up just this morning thinking how bizzare life is!!

Travel may not heal a broken heart but it opens your eyes to the potential life holds for us all- and that is the crazyiest feeling i have ever felt. I have moments when I have been traveling where i feel like im literally glowing with the excitment and enjoyment of it all.

The people you meet traveling will amaze you, its truely awesome that such a strong bond with a total stranger can be made in one night in one city. Im sure it will be moments like this you may realise your heart is mending and you are moving on to a better state of mind!!

Happy traveling