A Wren Says

It’s snowing outside. I knew full well this would happen and braced myself for the massive storm that was coming our way. Days before I came to New York, I switched my flight to get ahead of the impending snow and wind that threatened to cancel my flight. I figured it would be fine. But now, with the risk that I may not even get to do the things I came here to do, I am questioning my decision. Here I am, just sitting alone in a hotel room, typing away and working on my blog. What a waste. I could have done this at home and not be paying a nightly rate.

And yet…

Even if I don’t step outside, even if the event is canceled, even if I spend this whole trip holed up in a hotel room, this trip is not a waste. I have been given the luxury of rest. I have the freedom to do those workouts I could never find time to do at home. I can get ahead on my blogs. By doing “nothing,” I am able to do more.

As someone who keeps questioning whether she is in fact a bad traveler, I keep coming back to that conclusion. My trip does not need to be a trip filled with sightseeing or experiences to be worth it. Yes, a key reason to travel is to see the world. You can’t do that if you are not going out and about. However, the other key reason is to learn more about ourselves and to continue to grow. That happens whenever we put ourselves in new situations. This room right here is new. This room is a place of learning and development. This room is a site for healing. This room right here can provide all those things if only I allow myself to receive them.

Travel, whatever it may look like, can provide us with so many things that we cannot get at home. Don’t let your beliefs about what it should look like keep you from venturing out. Design your trip to meet your needs, never mind if anyone else believes it would be a waste. Let your journey be your own, and let yourself receive what you came to find.