Virtues of Travel: Part 3

Unfortunately, the adage, “live in the present moment,” has become cliche enough that we too often disregard it.  We move at lightning speed throughout our day, never taking the deep breath to fully enjoy where we are and who we’re with. And the “fully” here is a matter of recognizing that nothing else matters other than that person and that moment.

But the more we wait during travel, the more the energy of relishing in the present moment becomes habitual … a great habit to form.  Think of a young baby waking to an unfamiliar world: instead of disregarding that world, even if they’ve seen it before, they open their eyes wide to soak in all that they can.

My three-month old daughter opens her eyes in this way every morning.  It is miraculous to watch how everything is brand new to her, even if she saw it yesterday … and how excited she is as she recognizes the beauty of everyday objects like photos and picture frames, staircases, lights, and the patterns on the closet door.

The savvy traveler opens their own eyes in this way as well, relishing in each moment, glad that they are in this new place, looking out into the world with the eyes of a child.

Are you relishing today?