And Then I Traveled
This week, as I looked in my memories in social media, it reminded me about a trip I always dreamed about and took one year ago. As I was looking at the pictures, so many memories came rushing back. I was able to remember all the excitement and anticipation before the trip. I remembered the careful planning, the hours spent researching places to stay and visit and the curiosity to discover new cultures and countries. I also remembered the actual feeling of awe during the travel days, every time I was able to see firsthand some places I always saw in books and learned about in history classes.
The first part of the trip was a stay in London but a few days before departure, the Universe decided I had to experience London on my own. My better half had to stay behind to take care of his mother after her release from the hospital. I decided to dive into the experience as a solo traveler with open arms. London enchanted me in so many ways. But most importantly, I learned that life is what you make of it. Every day I ventured alone into the city with openness, focus and awareness. It allowed me to enjoy every single place I visited, connect with perfect strangers and discover I was one with the world. I also learned a big lesson in that if things cannot go according to plan, they still are experiences I need to have at the time.
At the end of my stay in London, my love was able to join the trip. From London, we traveled by train to Amsterdam and then to Paris. Those were two fascinating weeks taking in history, culture, art, delicious food and enjoying the carefree feeling of allowing life to evolve in full color before our eyes. There were moments of deep mindfulness where I could feel blissful and grateful for the opportunity to be there. I humbly reminded myself about the place in life I came from and how life was rewarding me for my hard work and determination to transform my life from addiction to sobriety.
One year after the trip of my life, I sit now and reflect on our current reality. It has been a tough year living the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and the isolation in place we all have lived as a result of it. We had to reinvent the way we go around our daily living. We have not been able to relate to our family and friends the way we used to. Travel is nowadays not considered safe. Within the reality of everything we are living today, the memory of that trip came to me as a reminder we cannot stop dreaming, living the moment and being grateful every second of our lives. Of course, I am looking forward to the opportunity to travel again and create new memories but in the mean time, I travel through the lane of past memories and I revisit every place I went and experience it from the most treasured place of my heart.
WHEREVER YOU GO,
GO WITH YOUR HEART.
-CONFUCIUS