I love to travel. I love to be home too. The comfort of routine. The adventure of seeing the world and gaining new perspectives.
This year though I made a mistake, a delightful one, that involved our travels.
We booked a long overdue bucket list trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights for March. Then for April we booked a baseball trip (my hubby loves baseball and we have been to all the parks!) to see the newly renovated Tampa Bay stadium and a trip to Miami to watch our beloved, though not always winning, Cincinnati Reds play.
Great idea. Confirmed on two different pages of the calendar. The mistake? The trip ended up less than a week apart and that week in-between was busy, extra worship services, Holy Week. YIKES! How will I catch my breath, find the energy, and remember to savor and enjoy the present with this crazy booking back-to-back?
I reached into the vault of past blog posts and found a post I wrote in 2014 – 4 and ½ reasons why I love to travel. Out of laziness, fatigue, can’t find a minute to breath necessity, I am resharing those reasons. A good reminder for me too. LOL
Here are my 4½ reasons why I love to travel:
- Travel is mind expanding. I love to learn and see new sites and explore ways of thinking. Attentive travel helps us see the world through new eyes. Once home I have learned to appreciate the routine more too. I love stretching my mind, taking the risk to let go of what I tightly clench in order to embrace new thoughts and the adventure of new discoveries.
- Travel is emotionally enriching. A few weeks ago as we traveled with friends, one commented that they had never heard me laugh so hard. Had I forgotten to laugh in the everyday? Taking a journey away from the ordinary helped me see the joy in all life again and to delight with a belly laugh. I lose track of time – what day is it? – and let go of the ego driven controlling schedule. To release the “what if’s” that constrain us. Travel is freeing.
- Travel is socially exchanging. When we’ve traveled to foreign countries, I am amazed how even with language barriers, we can communicate. Often with only a smile. When I see how ancient societies worshiped and I touch holy ground, I feel connected across centuries with the family of God. And what priceless memories we collect with our families and traveling buddies. No matter the country or politics, travel create bridges in relationships and in our collective stories.
- Travel is soul encouraging. I see travel more like a pilgrimage. As I visit other places, listen to novel sounds, taste new unknown foods – I find meaning to all life. When I see families, loving each other in a different culture – it is still love. Something unfolds deep within my heart on pilgrimage. Traveling keeps my soul awake. It is both a journey among and within. My true self emerges with travel.
½. Travel holds mystery, not fully realized until the afterglow of home and memories. That is why it is only a half – often I don’t realize its treasure until years afterwards. It isn’t a whole but an ongoing process. The lingering and savoring the pilgrimage later tastes so good and continues to nourish me.
What inspires you about traveling?
I love that last observation–the full treasures of travel aren’t always realized until after we’re home. That’s none the more true than after our trip to Israel–the gift that keeps on giving! Images still come to mind as I read scripture, for which I’ll always be grateful. No doubt you feel the same after your own journeys in the Holy Land.
Finally home and so happy to have travel yet a home to come back to. I am grateful and full of memories. God has created such lovely places on earth, even our own backyards are full of His glory.