Finding new lands

Last month, I spent a wonderful week in Newfoundland. I told the immensely helpful folks at the tourist info in St John’s that I’d mention the city and how friendly the locals were. People in Newfoundland are incredibly lovely and kind, their hospitable reputation even immortalized in the theatrical production, Come from Away.

This generosity of spirit definitely helped me navigate my experiences there, which were not without challenges, the main one being the return of a health problem from three years ago, which left me very dizzy and breathless, quite literally waging an uphill battle through the steep streets of the colourful city.

Tackling this issue, along with the usual particulars of orienting to a new place, brought into sharp focus the paradoxical way that travel simultaneously opens you up to new worlds, while forcing you to hone in on the essentials. All kinds of niggling problems and obsessions fade into the background when you’re faced with the need to find food and shelter, or, as in my case, to address a health problem in a strange place. There is also something very liberating about packing all that you need into one bag, with (nearly) everything serving a functional purpose and feeling grateful for having all the basics to hand.

Once armed with all of the essentials, there is nothing comparable to having a new world literally open up before your eyes, putting your own situation into perspective and showing how much more there really is on offer, making travel one of the best and most uplifting experiences you can ever have in your lifetime.

The opportunities for learning and sharing and the joy of discovery are endless. I feel exhilarated by all the challenges I set for myself, pushing myself past my comfort zone and trying out pursuits beyond what I would ever have imagined me capable of doing. And of course, seeing puffins soaring across the ocean was pretty incredible too. 🐧

The best thing about travel is that you can literally do it anywhere – even in your own home town. It’s not about spending a fortune or going to an exotic location. It’s about being open to what’s around you, and being adventurous enough to try out new places and experiences. When you travel – in any capacity – you naturally make yourself vulnerable, which allows you to connect with others, to grow and to gather new ways of understanding.

As a result, you can also develop confidence and skills that you can take with you throughout your life. I would encourage everyone to take a break from the daily routine and live a little – stay out late – do interesting things, take a chance. Your body will recover and your spirit will soar.

The wonder of travel is that it is always available to us if we open our baggage within and fill it instead with the joys of discovery. Travel – of any kind – is one of the best ways to feed your soul and to feel appreciative, expansive, energized and alive.