"The
best journeys
answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask." - Jeff
Johnson
As I sit here gazing out the windows on this dreary, wet day
I find myself day-dreaming about some of my upcoming adventures. In preparation
for my travels, I had recently joined this travel app that connects you with
other world travelers. Wow, that’s crazy to even think I can be considered among
the likes of such. Me, a world traveler, yes, I do like the sound
of that. This app connects me to others who have been or may be going to some
of the locations on my agenda. It has
been interesting to hear people’s recommendations, see their pictures, read
their stories etc. To say I am getting excited would be an immense
understatement. (Side note - I'm pretty sure amazon is enjoying the profits from all of my digital media and camera purchases lately in preparation for documenting all these adventures.)
Still being new to the whole idea of traveling, I often
wonder what it is I will learn over the course of the next year. I mean sure, there are the basics… sign your passport, don’t drink the water,
don’t swim with your phone etc. All of which were incredibly valuable
lessons to learn on my first adventure, but I am curious to learn more. I see
the posts of my fellow world travelers
and I am mesmerized at what the world has to offer.
When I started thinking about this year, I knew where I
wanted to go… but I never really stopped to think about where the world would
take me. Will I be the same person I was before I started it all… well I can
already answer that- NO! Even after one experience, I feel like my perspectives
have changed. I am realizing very quickly how humbling it is to see what a
small space you occupy in this world and how much there is out there to experience.
As I started making reservations, my
bucket listed consisted of a handful of places I wanted to see… but with each
new adventure booked, the wish list for upcoming adventures grows exponentially.
I’ve also started thinking a lot about who I will meet over
the course of this next year. It’ crazy to think that my circle of friends has
already started to expand across borders and oceans. Just this morning, I was messaging
with one of my friends from the Dominican trip and I can’t wait to finalize
plans to see them again! Just as I am excited for all the new people that I
will meet, I am also looking forward to reconnecting with friends that I have
not seen in a while. Later this month I
will be reconnecting with an old friend in Disney World. 😊
The happiest place on earth! Did I mention this is during Epcot’s World of
Nations Food and Wine festival? I am considering this ‘market research’ for my
upcoming travels!
Oh… more about that, I planned that trip on a whim; last
minute and only for a day… yep that’s right one single day. You see, when I started
this Wanderlust Journey, I said to myself that I was going to be more open to the
experiences that the universe throws at me.
I was NOT going to let myself overthink and talk myself out of the
opportunities that present themselves. Now grant it, not every opportunity will
work out, but I was going to make sure I said YES a little more often and not
let the excuses prevent me from doing the things I want to do.
Lately, NO EXCUSES
has been a mantra for me. I think about everything going on in the world around
me. I think about the people who in a few hours’ time have lost their homes and security this
past weekend. I think about how we often find ourselves bogged down by stress,
materials, and life in general. It’s easy to get so caught up in it all and
lose sight of the beauty and comfort we can find in our experiences and in the memories that can not be washed away. Life can be harsh at times and leave us feeling like we are ill prepared, out of control, and downright uncomfortable. I think, for me, traveling can be my way of embracing the chaos and searching for what the world has to teach me. It is an opportunity to see past the stressors of life and find something more valuable than any item on my shelf. A way for me to grow in my own skin and find security in the space that exists outside of my usual day to day.
I do not know exactly what the next year holds for me. I am not sure
of the lessons I will learn, the people I will meet, or the person I will
become… but as I sit and contemplate it all- the voice of Pocahontas echoes over
and over in my head “You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew.”
Looking forward to the many adventures ahead.
Stay tuned for posts from my next adventure in Disney… I’m
thinking Walt, Wine, and Wanderlust
