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Tracy, I think I want to play Devil's Advocate a bit. Nothing that follows is meant to denigrate anything you have written.

I find you category "Travel" as a life area difficult. If you mean it metaphorically, that is one thing; if you mean it literally, that is something else. Travel is wonderfully broadening for some, but for others it seems to make no difference (some of the narrowest-minded people I have known were among the most widely travelled, while some of the broadest thinkers hardly travelled). For many it is difficult or nearly impossible due to health, disability, family commitments, or economic insecurity, let alone for political reasons. We might also think about the long history America, in particular, has with well-traveled veterans who return alienated and hating a liberal, diverse society. That's been happening for at least a century.

I feel that to focus on "travel" - even if for historical reasons may be a problem. Is this really what the category should be? It seems like what you are talking about is really about an expanding worldview, and that might happen in a number of ways.

Is there a better term for this, something broader? It seems to me that imagination and empathy, curiosity and desire (to learn, for something new, for experiences) are the keys.

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This is the absolute best kind of devil's advocacy. I welcome it with open arms. :)

Is travel as LA3 meant literally? Actually, more or less, yes. I think so. Of course I recognize that not everyone travels *well*, and travel actually fits into my evolving scheme for lifelong learning in two ways: one travels to learn, and one learns in order to travel (and travel well). There is learning that happens before, during, and after. Re-entry after a time abroad is no joke; I'm not surprised that things can go south. Perhaps one doesn't return at all, or not entirely whole. This is no completely safe practice.

For those who cannot travel -- I think absolute restrictions apply to very few people, since local, domestic "travel" is completely acceptable, and it can reveal almost as much as visiting the other side of the world, especially for someone otherwise bound to home.

That said, your appeal to widen the scope to broader open-mindedness, seeking, imagination, empathy, curiosity, metaphorical "travel" is entirely on point as a top virtue for all lifelong learning. Theoria as underlying rationale applies to the widest variety of experiences.

Thank you for your insights and probes!

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