Living Every Day As If I'm Traveling
Living Every Day As If I'm Traveling
Learning to let go, and embrace our surroundings as novel and wonderful no matter where we go.
Coincidentally I’m late in posting this story because I’ve been away traveling in Europe.
Now that I’m back I’m excited to share this with you. If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to my Substack for a FREE copy of my two FREE guides ‘Money Saving Tips for a More Meaningful Trip’ and ‘How to Prepare and Pack for Your First Solo Trip’.
Certainly, some people out there crave and ache for the comforts of home, but I know I’m not the only person out there who has returned after time overseas and thought to myself, ‘God, take me back to ___’.
After spending time away from home and traveling, it’s easy to come home and feel bored or uninspired by the surroundings that we are used to. We settle back into our daily routines spending time with people we know in a familiar environment, and find ourselves craving the novelty and excitement of being abroad.
But what if every day could feel like an adventure? Can every moment feel exciting and wonderful as if we are exploring new sites and places?
I’ve written before about the traveler’s mindset; about being more attentive and receptive to our surroundings, and approaching everything as if ‘we are seeing it for the first time’.
Much like a meditation or mindfulness practice, I find that focusing on the details we often overlook can help instill a sense of gratitude and happiness for the present, regardless of where we find ourselves.
When I’m out driving, or on a bus passing through streets I know well, I keep my eyes open for the things I often overlook—hanging flower baskets from street lamps or chipping paint on a restaurant sign that makes it look vintage chic. Some things are familiar to me, while others appear to have aged since I last visited, or are brand new to me.
The Earth is in constant motion, as is our environment. Sometimes we can feel stuck in our day-to-day activities, craving a change of scenery. Of course, we can physically move to a new location, but we can also adjust our perspective, and open up to what is already there. It’s always possible to take control of our thoughts and train our minds to observe things in a new light.
Recently I sat down in the backyard in the afternoon, the same one I’ve been used to for ten years, looking up from beneath the same tree that’s been there since we moved here.
I notice the leaves' shade of green changing depending on the wind and sun.
They are a bright, grassy tone under when fully lit by the sun and a deep green when overcast.
When the temperature cools, and autumn shifts into winter, the green fades into oranges, reds, and yellows, until finally it browns and fades into the soil.
As spring comes this process repeats itself, and a new set of leaves are born.
Suddenly I remember the opaque thick leaves of the olive trees that line the sidewalk in Iraq and the wide leaves of the lemon tree in my front yard.
The sun is stronger there, and yet the strength of those tree leaves is sturdy enough to withstand the dry heat. There’s no changing or falling of leaves here. Only the winter brings the heavy rains, that cause grasses and flowers that reign for just a short spring season.
As I sit and watch the green change as the clouds pass, and anticipate the fall colors to come now that I’ve moved back home. It’s all familiar, yet the cycle of seasons here is strangely novel to me now after several years away.
I know a time will come when the leaves will morph into warm hues, eventually shed, and make room for new ones.
I recognize the impermanence of the colors surrounding me and I give myself permission to change too.
Nothing is permanent in life. Not the leaves on the trees, not my job, or my body. Even lovers who stay true to their vows and spend their lives together are forced to be separated at death.
The irony is that even my opportunities to move and travel as much as I have in the past few years, are temporary too.
If I could do one thing for myself to ensure my happiness and fulfillment I’d always be ready for change; be willing to embrace what comes my way, bad or good, and always be grateful for where I find myself in any given moment.
That’s it for today’s post. If something resonated with you, share it with a friend, or even better, let me know in a comment :)
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Wishing you a lovely day, and a wonderful life.
Love,
Danika