After two years of hunkering down, we are starting to emerge into the larger world, eager to discover what new adventures await us.
While some of you couldn’t wait to scramble into your car or the first available plane and head off to some faraway place as soon as the borders opened, others have been reluctant to engage yet.
Circumstances and personalities vary. Everyone must make the decision that suits them best.
As much as I enjoy travel and adventure, I am an introvert. Turning inward, turning down the noise, and insulating from the outside world is very much part of my personality. I find peace in solitude. So perhaps I’ve found living within the constricted bubble of these past couple years easier than some of you.
At the same time, I’ve come to a greater appreciation of compassionate friends and thoughtful neighbours.
So, as I contemplate my next travel destination, I am wondering how to combine that recipe of “communal solitude” with my travel ambitions. How do we celebrate community while allowing individuality?
Perhaps it is spending a week with a small group in the pleasant countryside of Provence, France — absorbing the sights, sounds and aromas of glorious lavender fields? Or possibly renting a rustic villa among the rural vineyards of Tuscany, Italy? Or maybe floating leisurely through the countryside on a river barge, disembarking occasionally to partake in the local fare?
(If this is something you’ve done, feel free to send me your tips on what worked for you. I’d love to hear your insights.)
Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the last blooms of my garden and contemplating plans on how to celebrate the turning of the season.
This past weekend, I created a scarecrow as the first element of a fall display that I will construct over the next few weeks in my front yard to share with those who walk their dogs or drive by. Pumpkins and other festive elements will soon join the scarecrow. It’s my way to bring a smile to someone’s face and say “Thank You” to my neighbours who have been there for me these past few years.
Learning how to live respectfully and kindly with one another wasn’t necessarily how everyone experienced these past couple years. It wasn’t easy some days to shelter our hearts and minds from the turmoil and rhetoric amplified by our daily news feeds.
Yet I’m optimistic that our planet took up that challenge and will emerge with more understanding, stronger resilience, and greater willingness to be of service to one another.
Happy Thanksgiving and safe travelling to whichever destination you choose for your next adventure.
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