Via Little Passports
There are many reasons for people to travel. I find that my reasons are usually a combination of many things including the escape of my daily life to the thoughts of going somewhere unknown, uncharted and unexplored by yours truly.
A friend, who knows my wanderlust tendencies, gave me a book last year called The Art of Travel by Alain De Botton. A former TED Speaker and Philosopher, Alain explores the reasons why people travel, rather than where they travel. A particular quote I enjoyed:
The pleasure we derive from journeys is perhaps dependent more on the mindset with which we travel than on the destination we travel to.
I couldn’t agree more with this quote, because I think it sums up my last trip in the most exact manner. I was debating between travelling to Belize with my close girl friends or returning to Hong Kong to visit family. And in the end, Hong Kong won out. While I relish the thought of gallivanting around with my friends in a country foreign to me, I realized that this time around, the destination wasn’t the driving force behind my travel plans, but rather the intent on the travel. And looking back on the timing of it all, I realize now what kind of impact that decision had on me and how spending that extra time with my family became a blessing I will never forget or regret.
So for all of you who debate on whether it is the right time, the right reason or the right destination, just know there is no such thing. Just do it. Just. Go.
