Why Travel Still Matters?
My dad has always been a collector of experiences more than things. As a lover of adventure, he brought my family all over the world and I had caught the travel bug by the time I was 8 years old. I was that kid who had been to Myanmar before I set foot in Canada. I remember being captivated by other children in faraway cultures and how even with so much cultural divide between us, we would be drawn to each other to play and laugh.
As I got older, I continued to seize any opportunity I was presented to travel. I studied abroad in France and Turkey in high school and in Madagascar when I was in college. After college, I spent two years working in Tanzania and later, 6 months meandering through South America with a great guy (who I’d eventually marry and is sitting in the other room as I type this).
It’s no secret that travel has gotten more challenging in the age of pandemics and higher fuel prices. So why does it still matter? And why do I and so many of you still live and breathe adventure travel and jump through hoops to make it happen?
If I had to narrow it down to five reasons why we travel, this would be my list:
1. To learn.
Whether it’s learning a new language, learning about a new culture or ecosystem or discovering a new sport like fly fishing or skiing, travel allows us to become educated in diverse cultures and ways of life. We discover our differences but also how our lives are so greatly intertwined and how we impact one another.
2. To awaken.
Travel provides a disruption to the rhythm of daily life. New spaces or environments awaken our senses and we become intrigued by all the novel things around us. We forget about jobs, classes, and other responsibilities and can access a whole new level of presence and awakening.
3. To discover.
Travel allow us to discover — whether it’s an interesting place, a new favorite food, a new activity like horseback riding… we travel to not only see more of the world and the people in it, but to also discover more about ourselves. When the familiarity of daily life is temporarily stripped away, our core values and the essence of who we are become more clear. We rediscover our strengths, our limitations, and our true potential.
4. To connect.
When we travel, we meet new people of diverse backgrounds and experiences and every single one of them has the potential to play an important role in our lives.
5. To experience.
We travel to experience all that the world has to offer. Beautiful landscapes and sunsets. Wonderful people who we share more in common with than we may think. New flavors and smells. As my dad keenly knew, new experiences bring more meaning to our lives than new things. They shape and define us.
Ready to explore with me? You don’t even need a passport for this one! Join Lauren Dunne and I this September, 2022 in southwest Montana under the most magnificent big sky you’ve ever seen for a weekend of power yoga, yin yoga, sound bath, gourmet food, luxury accommodation and meaningful guided discussion. A land of vast open prairies, glorious mountains, picturesque ranch towns, and big blue skies, Montana is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful states in America. You’ll get to try your hand (or deepen your skills) at fly fishing, take a sunset wagon ride, trail ride through scenic vistas (optional), connect with an amazing group of like minded people and belly laugh together over the campfire. Hope to see you there!
