How to Travel with Meaning
If there is one thing the pandemic has stirred up within us, Mike Schibel from Big Wide World Magazine says, it is that desire to learn, to better ourselves, find new ways to step outside of our comfort zone, grow.
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Travel has been the chosen vehicle to drive change and transformation throughout history. The concept of travel […] was somewhat a functioning dysfunctional system pre-pandemic. Over-tourism, the lack of sustainable practices and supporting local were big topics even before the world paused. Now, as travel becomes a more regular part of our lives again, I am eager to see how the industry evolves to address ways to improve. […].
[…]. Let’s ask ourselves these questions: What does travel mean to me? What has my view on travel been this past year?
As we step into the world from lockdown, here are easy tips that will support a meaningful inner journey and a memorable outer adventure. Travel is personal and these steps will be different for each of us, but I’m confident that if we collectively embody them together, travel will be much more fulfilling.
Be present to the magic
One of the greatest gifts of travel is its allowance to disconnect from our current life, routine and inbox. […]. I invite you […] to instill these steps […]: Take deep breaths, look around, acknowledge where you are, sit still. This doesn’t have to mean avoiding posting on social media. Perhaps capture the moment and find a time later to do the posting. Try not to take away from your time being in the [moment]. That is the magic. Enjoy any unique opportunity to connect with nature and yourself, while also disconnecting from the constraints of the normal daily routine. Sometimes there will be limited reception available, which can feel very scary. Just remember, we don’t need to constantly be connected. […]. Sometimes, a little break is all that is needed for reflection time.
You don’t need to go far
Pre-pandemic I was guilty of thinking travel with deep meaning usually involved getting on a plane and going far, far away. As I’ve traveled much closer to home these past few months, I now know exploring a new part of the neighborhood or embarking on an afternoon drive to visit that town you’ve always want[ed] to check out can create the much-needed adventure. […].
Nature is the best therapy
During this past year, I spent several weeks exploring parts of [my region] I have not experienced in years. Since travel was forced to be local, I took advantage of the incredible offerings we have within two- to four-hour drives […]. Going for long hikes, jumping in lakes, seeing the sunrise all helped me take that pause in uncertain times. […]
You can do it
I kept hearing from people who wanted to go camping but didn’t have anyone to go with, or were unsure of what to bring, or where to go. […]. Whether you join a program […], or create your own experience, remember: You can do it. There are many options, for all different lifestyles, to get out and enjoy the world.
Go with the flow
Now let’s talk about one of the biggest vibe killers of travel: expectations. Have you ever experienced a trip where you thought it was going to go a certain way and it didn’t, only to find yourself and your group upset? Me too. Let’s change that thinking. It’s good to plan the adventure, but like the weather, sometimes things change. This is where we as travelers must go with the flow. Roll with the changes, see them as challenges to overcome and let them be part of the trip, not define the journey. And perhaps the stories you’ll have to tell from it will be epic.
Respect
The last step of traveling with meaning allows for a truly meaningful journey […]. Travel teaches us to respect ourselves, each other and the environment. The more we travel, connect, learn and grow, the better off we […] will [all] be. […].
Embrace the new dawn in travel and prepare yourself to travel with meaning. See you on the open road!
Contributed by Mike Schibel of Travel With Meaning, a travel storytelling community, sharing authentic and inspiring stories from incredible travelers on the Travel With Meaning Podcast […].
This is an excerpt from an article originally written by Mike Schibel and published by Big Wide World Magazine.
