“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
For those who are passionate about travel, every trip is a journey of creation. It is a series of steps with no particular end goal except the indulgence of an urgent whim which simply must be answered.
Like any artistic effort, it starts off with a vague idea. Perhaps sparked by something you’ve read or heard, maybe emerging un-asked for in the shower. Either way, it’s inspiration that needs to be met.
It’s In the Details
It’s a rare talent that can heed the call of creation straight away, crafting their masterpiece in one sitting. Time is needed to plan.
In the case of the artist, this means gathering your thoughts and raw materials. For the traveler it involves searching for tickets, booking accommodation and juggling layovers. Along with this comes a list of rather unromantic red tape requirements.
Once the creative journey begins, it can be fraught with the pitfalls of disappointments and disaster.
Rethink, Regroup, Refresh
Things may not go the way you anticipated first time. Travel, like art, follows a learning curve of its own. A trail of trial and error made up of language barriers, misunderstood protocols and unexplained delays.
Take joy in the learning, exploring and unexpected discoveries along the way. Take comfort tin the fact that you will overcome any hiccups with decorum and grace. You’ll be richer for it in the end.
Do the Work
As with the creation of an expressive piece of art or music, travel takes an amount of pleasurable effort. It requires a dedication to exploration that you won’t get by just sitting there. No matter how luxurious your lodgings are, you are going to feel the exquisite displeasure of being outside of your comfort zone.
However, the traveler, like the artist, is spared the sadness of lost opportunities and the anguish of wondering ‘what if’. Make the effort.
In the end you’ll have the experience, the photographs and those unique memories. Get in touch and let’s start working on your next masterpiece.
