I am sitting in my hotel room in Singapore realizing how long it has been since I’ve traveled internationally. It’s been so long that I forgot how wonderful travel can be. For a while now, travel has meant packing, going to the airport, dealing with more and more tedious security procedures, getting on a plane, going to a hotel, going to a conference room, finishing work and going back home (repeating the tedious security procedures) and unpacking. It’s gotten to the point that I have not only no longer been looking forward to traveling but have been viewing it as a stressful process.
This month, I had two trips back-to-back. Last week, I attended then Power of Words Conference in Vermont and had only a few days home before I had to start the process all over again to go to Singapore where I am co-facilitating a workshop at the NTL Institute’s Festival of Learning. So for the last few weeks I have been viewing this time with a bit of trepidation; feeling anxiety about packing and flight schedules and being away.
Then it dawned on me: I am going to be traveling halfway around the world! To a country I’ve never been to before! And at that moment, I realized that I had forgotten to be in a state of wonder. I remembered how wonderful it felt like to go to a different country and take in the different sights, sounds and smells. Instead of viewing the trip with anxiety, I could view it with wonder and excitement.
After more than 14 hours in the air flying from JFK to Hong Kong, I arrived in Hong Kong. As soon as I stepped onto the jetway, I could feel the difference in the air – it was humid and had a tropical smell to it. The smell brought back memories of the smell of summer in Japan, the sound of waves in the Virgin Islands. I realized that I am on an adventure. My friend and colleague, Yvette Hyater-Adams, and I are going to be facilitating a workshop on creativity and leadership with participants from Singapore, India and China. We are going to be having an awesome learning experience. Our workshop starts Monday and I am looking forward to it with excitement, anticipation and smiles.
When is the last time you had a sense of wonder in your life? `
How true and how important indeed to (re)discover the sense of wonder! Thanks for the post :)
Btw, in your 2nd last paragraph “After more than 14 hours in the air flying from JFK to Hong Kong, I arrived in Hong Kong”, did you mean you arrived in Singapore (and not Hong Kong)?
Cheers
Nice to hear from you Alan.
Actually, it was about 14 hours to Hong Kong and then another flight of about 4 hours to Singapore.
All the best,
Deb
Wow!
Thanks for sharing. We can be so focused on what we have to do and not take the time to fully enjoy the discovery of what is around us.
Fedrecia,
Lovely to hear from you. I hope you’re taking in all the wonder around you. :)
Hey Deb,
Enjoyed reading your blog and could connect very well with you because I was in the same state. This was my first travel outside India and I was perplexed with the precautions to be taken. But things changed the day I reached Singapore to attend the NTL workshop. I just let myself free to enjoy what I was in for experiencing.
The workshop was a great learning. Thank you Deb
Uma
Thank you for the feedback, Uma. Wonderful to hear from you.
Greetings Deb-
This post really hit home for me. When I was touring heavily, as the day of travel drew close I always felt extreme ambivalence around leaving my loved ones. In later years, the issues of intrusive security, uncomfortable planes and other inconveniences of travel have also contributed to those feelings.
However, meeting my band at the airport and focusing in the moment always puts me in the realm of realizing my blessing in being able to have excellent adventures across the world making music with dear friends. The amazing, beautiful people I’ve met in every country feeds that sense as well.
I agree with your response to Fredrecia- the fact is, wonder is around and available to us all the time. Thank you for your eloquent reminder of this truth!
Warmest Regards,
Michael
Thanks Michael. You make a great point. Part of being able to appreciate the wonder is bring in the moment.
All the best.
Deb
Dear Deb,
I dread travel. I get so very tired! I just found out this week that my Vitamin D levels are totally depleted, which leads to fatigue, depression, weight-gain, and all other sorts of problems. So health has been on my mind a great deal, lately.
Cultivating wonder, _attuning_ myself to wonder, is easier when living in vibrant health. During bouts of chronic pain or fatigue, for instance, I feel like a subway ride to the Bronx might as well be a donkey trek across the Gobi desert. But, in those times when I’m free from pain and my energy is pulsing, I can get “high” sending out invisible, silent blessings to my fellow passengers (even the knucklehead stepping on my toes).
But of course … there are very evolved, saintly beings who are suffering physical torment, just as there are violent criminals who live long lives with few health complications. So suffering is no excuse for me to deny the ecstatic reality of wonder.
Glad you found your wonder again, Deb! May you be forever in its graces!
Love,
Toni
Thank you Toni!
I send you loving and healing energy and wishes for health and wonderment.
Deb:
Traveling is wonderful regardless of the work involved. You get the chance to compare everything !!!
I miss traveling internationally. I’ve been all over East Asia and South East Asia. I need to travel to Europe!!!
I’m happy you had a chance to experience Singapore. Aside from the conservatism, it can be quite enjoyable.
Hey Tony,
Nice to hear from you! Singapore was fabulous – the workshop went well and the whole trip re-awakened the travel bug in me. Now I’m looking forward to presenting the workshop again next year but in Goa, India. Can’t wait.