Lessons from traveling

The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.

John Muir

One of my favorite times is when I get to travel. I LOVE to travel! Last week I went to Phoenix, Flagstaff, then Sedona for five days. I got to spend time with some of my favorite people! Memories were made and connections strengthened.  Sedona is a must-see, it is magical! This was my first time in Flagstaff. I was excited about new experiences and the beautiful mountains and pines. I love to be fully present and soak it all in. I don’t want to miss anything.

I can’t help but wonder what I would notice about my everyday life if I looked at it with the same presence and wonder.

I find it easier to be present when I am not in my normal routine at home. I feel like we get so used to seeing what’s in front of us all the time that we don’t pay attention. This is true of our environment and sometimes even the people nearest to us. What if we had that same attention and appreciation for our lives every day?

I took being able to travel for granted until I couldn’t travel. This past year has been challenging. Those challenges brought with them opportunities to look at life differently. I have a deeper sense of gratitude for some things I once took for granted. Travel is one of them. I feel like I appreciate travel more than ever. Why is it that when something is taken away that we become more grateful for it?

As we start getting to travel more and things open up and our new ‘normal’ emerges and settles in, I will remind myself how blessed I am for the time I couldn’t travel. It helped me to appreciate being able to travel more than ever before. I will remember to totally immerse myself in the moment and cherish time with friends I don’t get to see often. I will make a point to be curious about new ways of looking at things and new ideas. Without a doubt, travel enriches our lives by broadening our horizons.

I encourage you to take a few moments today and think about trips you’ve taken. What new things did you learn? What connections did you make?

 Are you planning any trips this year? I’d love to hear about them.