Happy Monday!
I've been thinking a lot lately about travel in very organic terms. One of my goals for myself this year is to really "experience" the places I visit. I want to have many of those moments like I had in Iceland where I just took in all around me and was really moved by the place.
I've been thinking a lot lately about travel in very organic terms. One of my goals for myself this year is to really "experience" the places I visit. I want to have many of those moments like I had in Iceland where I just took in all around me and was really moved by the place.
Part of what makes traveling so amazing is that it totally takes you out of your comfort zone. No matter how far from home you go, you have to change to travel, you have to mold into what you need to be in each specific place. For me, I love this feeling. I love the feeling of molding to the city, of being a little bit British in London or bringing out my Irish heritage in Dublin. For me, that molding happens very naturally. I am naturally more French in Paris and more laid back in Italy. Some of that has to do with the culture and to truly experience a place, you must let the place guide you and you must let it wash over you in a very organic and truthful way.
Being out of your comfort zone is a part of traveling that truly lets you emerge as anyone you want. It's a way to let go of the pretenses of your normal life, letting go of the need to be a certain type of person. Personally, that feeling of the unknown is something I crave always. It's my favorite part of the traveling process, it's what truly makes me, me.
Traveling is at its core a way to explore our planet.
And I want to add more of the exploration factor into my traveling this year. I want to experience more in each place, I want to lose myself in each place I see this year and I want to remember moments that literally took my breath away, moments when I let the place wash over me and when I let each destination bring out a different side of me.
I want to let the discovery of each place I see this year change me.
I want to discover more about myself in each place I go and I want to leave my mark on each destination.
Travel will always give you new discoveries; it will expand your horizons no matter where you go.
Travel will always offer those moments where you grow and learn and find more about yourself and about our world and if you let it, each place you see might just change a part of yourself and open up so many new discoveries.
I love what you said about traveling: 'you must let it wash over you in a very organic and truthful way'. To me that is the purest way to take on new places, cities, countries, and cultures. For me having grown up in so many cultures a bit of each is a part of me forever. I feel the same when I go to places as you said 'more laid back in Italy' as I take in the view of Mt. Vesuvius and the food, or more girlie and elegant when I am in Paris. Its that personal connection that really makes me excited about getting on a plane again.
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The Compass Rose
I totally agree!
DeleteI used to just do whatever was easiest when I traveled (which meant staying in touristy areas, eating at touristy restaurants) but lately we've tried to choose more (dare I say) authentic experiences -- trying to get that local feel.
ReplyDeleteLove that you touched on the feeling of the unknown. It's a wonderful way to experience life.
That's great! I think the best part of traveling is forcing yourselves out of your comfort zone.
DeleteSpot on here. Travel is so special because of all of the things you've listed in this post. That's why I hold my trips and the places I've seen and experienced so close to my heart! I love feeling small in a huge world, I love that there is always more to learn, try and grow from. The world is such an amazing place and I could not imagine my life without travel in it!
ReplyDeletetotally!
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