Staying At Home
Wow! I’ve been at home for nearly six months! No international travel, not even domestic travel further than 100 miles from home. I started my travel business 12 years ago, and I don’t think I have stayed home for more than a couple of months in a row. The last couple of years I was traveling almost every month.
This time has been one of disappointment for all the trips I had to cancel. To make myself feel better, I rearranged my desk and writing chair so that I could look out the window while working; this sometimes distracted me from the computer screen, but also gave me sunlight and trees to look at, a chance to notice the little lizard who races across the sill under my window, to watch the occasional deer families that mosey through the yard. I also know when my mail and packages are being delivered. Lots of little everyday happenings that I’ve never had time to remark upon before has kept me interested in my surroundings.
This has also been a time of reflection. Traveling so much in the last few years, by the end of last year, I noticed I wasn’t able to appreciate each trip, that I barely had time to unpack, do laundry and repack before taking off again, much less review my notes or organize my photos. I hate to admit it, but I was probably traveling too much.
Travel Reading
I tend to do a lot of travel reading, anyway, for work, both in print and online. Most of them are the “go-here-sleep-here-eat-this-do-that” type of review, which can be good for basic info, but not the most inspiring. Not being able to travel has dampened my enthusiasm for reading about places I can’t go for the foreseeable future.
There are, however, three “travel” books that have given me ideas about how I will be able to travel in a more meaningful way when I am able to get out there. These books are different than the usual travelogues, which is another reason they are so intriguing.
Suggested Books
“The Way of the Traveler: Making Every Trip a Journey of Self-Discovery “by Joseph Dispenza. 2012. 2nd Edition. Avalon Travel Publishing Co.
This one I actually heard about last year and can’t wait to start incorporating some of the activities in my travels. I thought this book would be too “out there” and esoteric, but there are wonderful insights and practical suggestions along the way. Mr. Dispenza relates travel to the five mythic stages of the “hero’s” journey and describes each one along with ideas for the traveler to deepen their travel satisfaction.
He writes, “Undertaken with awareness, travel surely is one of the most available and most effective means to nourish, broaden, and quicken the soul. The destination does not matter as much as the attention we give to the understanding that all travel is inner travel.”
This book has showed me ways to add more mindfulness to my travel. He suggests rituals and journal ideas for all aspects of a trip. One idea: “Make leaving (the) house a ceremonial event.” Then you know your journey is beginning.
I know I’ll be returning to this book many times in the months ahead
“The Joys of Travel-and the Stories that Illuminate Them”-by Thomas Swick. 2018. Skyhorse Publishing.
Mr. Swick identifies seven “Joys” of travel: Anticipation, Movement, Break From Routine, Novelty, Discovery, Emotional Connection, Heightened Appreciation of Home. He describes his experiences as a travel writer and how he worked to make his writing more meaningful than the usual checklist-type travel story.
Making connections with all kinds of people, being a keen observer of his surroundings, relating to the seven “joys” helped him get the most out of his trips. Even when things didn’t go well, he appreciated the lessons. If you are interested in the field of travel writing, Mr. Swick has a lot to offer. For me, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed his travel tales and his search for joy off the beaten path.
