How to apply your travel attitude to your daily life
June 4, 2018
Somehow it’s easier to see beauty and magic when you are traveling than when you are at home. Being out of your daily routine helps you to look at the world in an open minded and relaxed way. A couple of years ago I wrote a blog how to hold on to your travel feeling at home and at that moment I decided to try to apply my travel attitude to my daily life by being openminded, inquisitive, exploring and aware of the small every day miracles that make my life a discovery. As soon as I adjusted my attitude, spontaneously beautiful and surprising things started to happen. I enjoyed my days at home more and felt more at peace and in the right place. After all: happiness is a journey, not a destination. Or as I discovered: happiness is a mindset. Here are my tips how to to apply your travel attitude to your daily life:
Practise really seeing what you are looking at
This is a life changer, a lesson I learned on my first trip to Egypt. Many moons ago I visited Egypt for the first time and I was almost overwhelmed by the richness of art and culture. Both the quantity and the quality were impressive. As a busy Western girl, I hurried along the many sights, in an attempt not to miss anything. There was so much to see and the time was so limited. As I hurried into another tomb my Egyptian compagnion grabbed me by my arm. He took me back into the mastaba I just visited. ‘I’ve already been there,’ I protested. Not listening to my protests he put me in front of a wall painting. There we stood for a few minutes. Silently and just looking. And wondering what this was actually good for. Then he asked: ‘Have you really seen what you were looking at?’ This simple question changed my life. I looked at the painting again and only now I really saw it: the splendid colors, the fine details, the symbolism. For the first time I did not only register, I really saw it, I felt it, experienced it. This change of view turned my first visit to the land of miracles into an intense, unforgettable experience. From that moment on I didn’t look at the world, I saw it, I felt it, tasted it, smelled it and I was really present. Immediately I fell in love with Egypt. The ancient culture, the myths and sagas, the magical hieroglyphs, the breathtaking deserts, the stunning Red Sea. I’ve traveled back to Egypt 16 times and always I remember my compagnions words of wisdom. Apply this ‘really seeing what you are looking at’ at home and trust me, your world will be so much bigger, more colorful and more beautiful. Or as Marcel Proust said it: The voyage of discovery lies not in finding new landscapes but in having new eyes.
Have an eye for the magical moment that every day carries in it
This one is closely linked to the previous one. It is important to have an eye for the small things in life, but also to take time for them. It’s easy to think: I’m very busy now or I have to go to work, I will really look at it later. There is no later, only this moment exists. Take time to stop, to be present and enjoy the moment. Listen to the birds, smell the flowers and feel the sea. Because no matter how cliché it sounds: these small things really enhance your happiness. The only thing you have do is to make time for them and every grey and ordinary day will reveal magical moments. Your ability to enjoy small, everyday moments determines how bright and happy your days are. Be a seeker: find beauty in the smallest moments.
Make every day count
Or even better: enjoy every minute of the journey of life whether its good or bad. Good days bring you joy, bad days give you lessons. And don’t waste your time worrying. Remember that worrying is like praying for what you don’t want. Accept what is. Not every part of your travel is perfect. But is does have perfect moments. The same goes for your day. There is no perfect life, just perfect moments. Cherish these moments and see the miracles in every day and every situation. These moments make the whole journey worthwhile. Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.
Live in the moment
On travels it’s somehow easier to live in the moment. Letting go of the past and the future are the first steps towards happiness and peace of mind. Let go of expectations: they only lead to disappointments. The best in life is right where you are at this moment. You have to deal with the world the way it is, not the way you expect it to be. There is so much enchantment in the present moment. Serenity comes when we trade expectations for acceptance. You must be willing to let go of the travel or life you planned, so you can enjoy the life that is waiting for you. Too often our minds are set on being or getting somewhere else. Another beautiful day will end with hunderds of unnoticed moments. Live in the moment. A good life is simply a collection of happy moments. Live in the present and make it so beautiful, it will be worth remembering.
Ofcourse we all kinda sorta know all mentionned above in the back of our heads, but when you are aware of your attitude, your life will attract more magical moments every day. The more you love life, the more life will love you back. Since I apply my travel attitude in my daily life, I wander through magical forests and fly with dragons everyday. Life has become so much more magical.
