My boyfriend of 38 years* and I just returned from two weeks of international traveling. This was our first adventure without our children. It was amazing; along the way, I learned the following nine lessons of traveling:
1. Unplug
You’ll survive, and so will everyone who loves you.
2. Leave Work Behind
The world didn’t end, and work didn’t go anywhere.
3. Be Curious. Stay Curious
We learned so many amazing things about culture, religion, human behavior, architecture, art, humanity, and language. Two weeks of travel equated to a semester of College Humanities.
4. Observe and Listen
You’ll not only observe things you never expected to see, but you’ll also notice your thoughts, patterns of behavior or thinking that are less helpful, and judgments that are not true, as well as history from a variety of viewpoints, different languages, an assortment of extraordinary smells, scenery, music, and beauty.
5. Sleep, Make Love, Laugh … a Lot
You get the idea!
6. Slow Down … To Go Farther
We walked an average of 15,000 steps a day. We slowed down and took our time exploring villages and cathedrals, visiting museums and mosques. We ate amazing food, drank good wine, met cool humans, and found awe in all of it.
7. Try New Stuff
You never know if you’ll discover your next favorite dish, a new book, a deeper understanding of your surroundings, or a memory to last a lifetime.
8. Walk the Local Path
Holy HECK! Get out of the commercial tourism and find where the locals eat, the parks they frequent, and the bars they laugh in. It will offer a glimpse of unscripted humanity and culture.
9. It’s About the Adventure
Travel can be hard these days. It’s easy to get frustrated and angry when things don’t go as planned. AND you will get there, or you’ll find a new, unexpected path to travel. Roll with it and take a breath.
Whether you travel abroad or down the street, seek the awe, the extraordinary, the new experience. We only have one life; travel it well!
*My husband and I have been together for 38 years and just celebrated 32 years of marriage.