Traveling truly is my favourite thing to do. Every aspect of the journey is thrilling to me, both “good” (exploring, learning, meeting people) and “bad” (frustrating layovers, plans that fall through) and everything in between. The important thing to me is to keep moving and keep experiencing things.
With that in mind, it makes sense that I am plagued by perpetual wanderlust. One consequence of knowing I was created to see as much as possible of this beautiful world (and constantly aching to do so, even if I have just recently returned home) is that I sometimes forget the first secret to a great journey:
With that in mind, it makes sense that I am plagued by perpetual wanderlust. One consequence of knowing I was created to see as much as possible of this beautiful world (and constantly aching to do so, even if I have just recently returned home) is that I sometimes forget the first secret to a great journey:
APPRECIATE WHAT’S IN FRONT OF YOU.
Of all the other travelers I’ve met, the happiest ones are those who know how to see the value in everything. They’re the type of people who commonly are referred to as “easy-going.” Their happiness ultimately comes down to one thing: whether they can find something good in each situation. For me that is an easy enough lesson on the road.
The problem is, that should not only be a lesson for the road. Ultimately it comes down to contentment, which is something I believe everyone struggles with in at least a few areas of their lives. This traveler is teaching herself the value of home. It doesn’t seem like it should be a hard lesson to learn, but it is.
The problem is, that should not only be a lesson for the road. Ultimately it comes down to contentment, which is something I believe everyone struggles with in at least a few areas of their lives. This traveler is teaching herself the value of home. It doesn’t seem like it should be a hard lesson to learn, but it is.
I’m learning to treasure having my own apartment with a comfortable bed to sleep and no need to pull my clothes from a suitcase each day. I’m appreciating that I have a roomy home office with an abundance of morning light by which to sew or write or sort through photographs, and that I have constant access to physical copies of my books when I am here rather than just whichever ones I add to my Kindle. I’m reminding myself how fortunate I am to have a spacious living room where I can play with my dog—and how pleasant it is to see his face light up every time he comes near me—and how much I miss my kitchen and the ability to cook healthy meals from scratch when I’m not here.
More than that, I’m reminding myself that I moved here only a year and a half ago, and that I don’t have to go on a long journey in order to find things worth seeing. I’m challenging myself to remember to appreciate what’s in front of me… whatever that may be, from a beautiful sunset over mountains that I’m glimpsing for the first time, to curling up on my own couch with a hot cup of tea and a riveting movie or novel, or anything in between.
The key is to experience everything you can about this world, and to remember to take time to see the beauty in all of it.
More than that, I’m reminding myself that I moved here only a year and a half ago, and that I don’t have to go on a long journey in order to find things worth seeing. I’m challenging myself to remember to appreciate what’s in front of me… whatever that may be, from a beautiful sunset over mountains that I’m glimpsing for the first time, to curling up on my own couch with a hot cup of tea and a riveting movie or novel, or anything in between.
The key is to experience everything you can about this world, and to remember to take time to see the beauty in all of it.
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