It's currently 5:15 am. I am not awake for the above reason. I am awake and alert simply because I am. However, what has come to mind at this ghastly hour, as I scroll through my Instagram feed, vigorously stalking photos of beautiful African safaris, tropical bohemian beaches and stunning snippets of the Atlantic Ocean, is how inspired I feel every time I travel. On my most recent trip to the Canary Islands, I recall the feeling of waking up far too prematurely but being unable to coax myself into falling back to sleep, simply because the promise of the upcoming day was so unbelievably exciting. As much as I enjoy a good night's sleep, the promise of actively living out my dreams was enough to tempt me away from the comforts of my bed.
So, that's what I want to talk about now, at 5:15 am. The ways in which travelling is inspirational and exciting. The 3 things that come free with a plane ticket...
1) INSPIRATION
(This was an obvious starting point).
Something above travelling make me feel inspired from the word go. Everything about it excites every part of me!
From the moment the airplane takes off I think to myself - 'who was the person sat here before me, where did they go, what stories and memories did they create'? I feel inspired by the beautiful previews of the world that the journey to the destination reveals, by the conversations of similar strangers regarding their own forthcoming journeys, by the photographs and the stories in the airline's travel magazine, which I occupy myself with for the hours that I wish would hurry by on the plane.
Arriving at my destination only evokes further inspiration - fascination with new places, new cultures, new cuisines... a whole new world... and the concept that this is only a new world to me and yet so familiar to another person. That my today is somebody else's everyday. I could preach about this forever - but to avoid a mini-novel on travelling and inspiration I will simply summarise by saying that I wholeheartedly believe feeling inspired is one of the greatest blessings travelling offers. And I am in love with the hope it fills you with for the future - that if there is this one beautiful place that is begging to be explored, there will always be one more. Cue endless inspiration!
2) CLARITY
I truly feel travelling gives you such a strong sense of what is important.
From carefully selecting and prioritising the items to take with you, making cuts and sacrifices as if you might have to live out of a 3 foot suitcase for the rest of eternity. From the people you choose to travel with, knowing that for the next few days, weeks or months they will be the only familiar face that you see each and every day. From the places you select to travel, carefully choosing them because you need to feel the sun on your skin or the rush of wind through your hair as you fly down a ski slope. For the reasons you choose to travel there - for the love of fascinating people, or curiosity about creatures, or searching for stunning scenes.
It gives you clarity in the sense that it reveals to you what is important to you, what you really need in this life.
For me personally, inspiration and clarity walk hand in hand. I have heard some people argue that travelling reminds you that you are small, somehow insignificant to the larger things in life, a minuscule part of the gigantic world. But I disagree.
On our most recent trip, I recall one conversation which I shared with my boyfriend on the balcony of out hotel room one night. We enjoy the sunset. We watched the mountains disappear into the darkness, before the lights of the night painted the town. I thought to myself - what a beautiful world that I am a witness of right now! I felt so blessed, that of all the eyes in the world, it was my eyes that were fortunate enough to watch this scene unfold. I sat there and thought to myself, 'just because another person's eyes are not observing this same view right now, it doesn't cease to exist or make it any less real and relevant'.
That's how travelling makes ME feel - that, in this life, you may not always be seen, or noticed. Sometimes you may be hidden away, at other times you may be lighting up or painting the town. You may not always be relevant to everyone, but you are very important to someone. To someone you are not a small part of the world, you are the whole word, centre of the scene...
The above point may appear to be the ramblings of a mad woman to one person, and another person may total relate. That's the thing about clarity, it is YOUR clarity. It puts things into perspective for you and inspires (see how that comes up time and time again) some of the most thought provoking but clear feelings and perspectives of your life.
3) FREEDOM
Airplanes literally make me feel like a bird... and not just because they shoot me high into the sky! Even from that very early stage of embarking on my trip, I feel free. It's incredible. From the aircraft, you literally watch you daily life become smaller and smaller still, as you temporarily escape from everyday reality... YOU. ARE. FREE.
Travelling lets you know who you are and the things you love to do when you wake up in the morning and think 'today I am not constrained by life or commitment or routine, and I can do whatever, be whatever... so what shall I do with my life today?' 'Perhaps I'll climb a mountain, or dive head first into the ocean'. It's a beautiful freedom that permits you to take the time you need to familiarise yourself with yourself, to seize opportunities, to create memories that will form the basis of your favourite stories... simply because you are free to do so!
Sometimes a plane ticket may not be cheap, but at they same time, it is priceless. Some very intelligent person once said "travelling is the only thing you buy that makes you richer". I cannot help but agree. I do not believe that there is anything that makes you feel wealthier than the thoughts and feelings that travelling and exploring this beautiful world arouses.
Have a happy weekend everyone...
And if you're feel inspired, go book a plane ticket somewhere, anywhere, everywhere. (It's the perfect time of year of last minute deals too). You'll never regret it. Honest...
https://www.skyscanner.net/
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