A Wall Street Journal headline caught my eye: “The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Getting Away.” This time last year I was away — with a week of travel left before our return. This year, a different to-do list for late summer.

But the research must be right, because it matches my lived experience. Of course travel improves mental health. How could it not? It keeps us on our toes. It provides opportunities for awe. It allows us to be ourselves in a way few other activities can.

Traveling can be as simple as driving somewhere without GPS assistance … or as complicated as a monthlong foray overseas.

What matters most, I think, is being in uncharted territory. You are on a subway that may or may not take you to Heathrow Airport. Your garret room is up four flights of rickety Alsatian stairs. It seems as if there is nothing you want to eat in all of Portugal.

So what? Life happens. And travel reminds us that it does. It’s not just good for the mind. It’s good for the soul.