I hope this video successfully communicates that I am not encouraging nor discouraging travel in general, or travel as a lifestyle. I simply wish to explore the definition and expand it to encompass journeys of all kinds. Some of us are either unable to travel, find that it does not suit us, or are simply seeking to enrich their internal life over external experiences. Recently we have found ourselves at home more often than not, and I think it is a wonderful opportunity to deepen our friendship with ourselves. My culture sells the idea of traveling as a symbol of success, an opportunity to find yourself, and a way to better understand the world we live in. All these things can be true and gained from traveling, but it is not the only way to expand your knowledge and increase your sense of value. Also, in this day and age, we need to consider the environmental impact of traveling, and I encourage you to find ways to enjoy your home and home life - making it purposeful and meditative.
It has been a long time since I ventured beyond my county. I took a needed trip to the coast to
visit my father. I spent some of my childhood here, and it is a place full of memories.
Consequently, I found myself reflecting on my life and how far I've come
and being satisfied with what I have.
As the daughter of a military man, I traveled a lot as a child,
having grown up in many parts of the U.S., Cuba, Puerto Rico, Italy, and Ireland.
I was always moving, and while I wouldn't trade my childhood for the world,
I also yearned for a stable community, friendships that didn't have to be long distance,
and a closer connection to a specific place I could call home.
Now, I barely venture out of my county, much less my state. While there are lands I still
plan to see someday, I'm content to explore my own home, discovering new things and learning
about the environment I live in. Staying put has given me a chance to observe the seasons
in one place and notice the changes from year to year.
Traveling is wonderful, but it doesn't always need to involve faraway places.
Sometimes it's simply an exploration of one's local area, or if you are in a particularly
adventurous mood, an exploration of your own spirit. There is so much to discover about oneself.
That is the one journey that is never over and is always available to take.
External experiences are fleeting, but your inner self is the one that you carry with you wherever
you go. And yet, oftentimes it is forgotten in the midst of busyness. While exciting new experiences
can be life-changing and memorable, it is the little more ordinary details that take up the
majority of our time. And it is often the part of the story that only you truly know,
in a way that gives us power to make it whatever we wish it to be.
Who we truly are is not always seen by other people. It is also our thoughts, our ideas,
and feelings. We can show each other where we've traveled and what we've achieved.
It is much harder to communicate who we are on the inside. And yet, that is the only thing we
carry with us all the time. I believe we can be very well traveled without physically going anywhere.
We can explore our imaginations, our questions, our spiritual perspectives.
If you are unable to travel, do not feel as if you are missing out. You can always choose
to go on a journey, simply of a different kind, and it is no less meaningful.
