In the spirit of gratitude that drapes across the fireplace mantle in deep green pines and brilliant garnets and flickering ambers, I’d like to sprawl the decoration further.
Twine thankfulness up the banisters and scatter laughter as ornamentation to the garlands of gratitude.
And if you step back far until your back touches the wall to breathe in the whimsy, you’ll see sparkles along the edges. A lightness of feeling glistening. The moments that could have been tears turned to hope.
The Traveling Thanks
What is it about travel that spurs the arc of gratitude? Like a small hand mirror, travel shows you a portion of yourself that you forget on the daily commute to work…the adventurer, the brave one…
What delights you about travel?
My List of Travel Thanks
- I love to travel, but I love to come home just as much. The excitement that somersaults me out the door for adventure trudges me home. And in it all, my heart swells for both the beginning and the end.
- Each handshake, a hello. Each smile, a potential new friend. People startle you, whether grumpy or complimentary. There’s a world out there, and yet, there’s a world in each person you meet.
- Public transportation, whether plane, train, or bus, filled with helpful people if you only ask…startle them out of their routine and their bubble.
- The sweet sound of your own language, even salted with another accent, on your ear when you’ve only heard words that make no sense in your brain.
- The wonder of a new city with its distinct architecture feels like a step into a different fairytale or storybook.
- Long hours between destinations offer ample time for staring out the window, daydreaming magical things, reading books upon books, thinking hard thoughts, and draining my iPod battery.
- Self realizations of the smallest or grandest sort spurred into consciousness upon the backdrop of some travel mishap.
- Adoption of new thoughts, ideas, customs from conversations with new friends and old who have seen different realities than their own.
- Adrenalin promising an adventure, challenge, or wonder just around the corner so get up already and explore what’s coming!
- The enormity of recognizing that people are people in every city, working to live, and repeating history again and again.
- The heart uplift when with bag upon shoulder you set out, accepting whatever may come and ready to handle any travel scramble that stumbles your way.
Do one of these listed thankfulness wonders delight you as well? Which one? Would you add something that I’ve missed?
Why are you thankful for travel?
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