“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. “
Albert Einstein
“The delights of self-discovery are always available. “
Gail Sheehy
While I usually always ask a traveler the question, ” How was your trip?” I follow it up with another question. “Is there anything you will do differently now that you journeyed there?” One person’s answer, ” I have never thought about my traveling this way” may resonate with most.
Some trips, like a family getaway, mainly remind me of time’s brevity. Scheduling a vacation around outside responsibilities can be daunting. Spending time as a family, couple or as friends causes one to stop and reflect, an absent practice for some.
Other trips cause a change in my weekly schedule. For example, after traveling to Greece and hearing how an evangelical church actively serves the local community, I decided to volunteer at Mt. Hope, a church that offers a weekly household/clothing giveaway. Volunteering here provides a perspective on poverty and homelessness.
Traveling offers adventure and little reminders of life’s simplest pleasures. I often ask myself, “How can I reproduce this activity back home?” For example, after biking with friends, I thought of an idea to meet at a local trail to bike together, Seeing water mixed with fruit in Hawaii made me say, ” I can do this at home!” Eating tomatoes with mozzarella and basil while in Italy caused me to include it as a side dish for summer meals. My list could continue, but the point is this: travel offers new and fresh perspectives.
Thinking about all of this travel prompts me to continue my thoughts in a different way: create that travel bucket list rumbling around in my thoughts.
Till the next journey,
Chelle Ren
