“It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.” – Anthony Bourdain
Travel. We dream of traveling to places all over the world: touring Italy to see amazing art and taste amazing food, hiking through forests or deserts, taking a cruise to the Caribbean or Alaska. What is it about travel that is so inspiring? And how does travel make us appreciate home even more than we did before?
I grew up in a small town where everyone looked like me. As far as I knew, the world was full of people who looked like me and believed the same things that I did. I had friends of different faiths, and I just thought it was pretty cool that they got eight nights of presents instead of just one day. And what if they were right about the whole Jesus thing? I mean, it seemed as much of a possibility as anything else I was being taught.
I truly did not know much about other cultures until I got to college. Let’s be honest, I really didn’t know much about any cultures, including my own, until I went to college.
This is why it is so important to travel; to see and experience the world from a different perspective. We are so deeply rooted in our own beliefs that we don’t stop to consider why someone else has different beliefs.
For the past ten days, I have been traveling through the Pacific Northwest. We flew into San Jose and drove to Oakhurst, CA. We spent four days hiking in Yosemite National Park and seeing the most breathtaking things: trees that are absolutely immense and are also centuries old, mountains of granite that shine in the sun, waterfalls that drop hundreds of feet off the rock face. Then, we drove up the coast on the Redwood Highway. I wanted to stop and take pictures of everything because it was so unlike anything I had ever seen. We spent four days in Northern California: walking through groves of Redwoods that are older than our country, finding hermit crabs and starfish in coastal tidepools, and driving up the coast to see the rock formations as they contrast with the crystal blue of the Pacific Ocean.
I can’t help but think about the people who make sure that we have access to these things that so many of us take for granted. I am not referring to those who raped and pillaged native land in order to claim victory over others; I mean the migrant workers who are the backbone of our economy, the volunteers who make sure that our National Parks are funded and cared for, the local businesses who are investing in jobs and believing in our communities. And as I return home, tired, but incredibly enriched, I have a new appreciation for the many colors of green, the lakes and streams, the farm stand produce, and the beauty of our own area.
In this week ahead, where can you travel right in your own backyard? Is there a trail to explore, a creek to follow, a restaurant to experience, or a park to enjoy? Travel is an experience in taking risks, learning something new, and opening your heart to possibilities. Whether your travel keeps you close to home or you go far away, you deserve to experience the joy and wonder of new thoughts, new ideas, different perspectives, and different vistas.
