The Intentional Traveler
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” – Unknown
Do you wish you could travel more, but….? What is your “but?” What is keeping you from travelling? Time? Money? Health? Responsibilities? No one to travel with?
These all sound like valid obstacles, but are really only excuses we tell ourselves. I have women clients that have overcome all these excuses for not travelling once they looked at the underlying fear beneath each excuse, clarified their desire, focused on their passions and then set an intention to attract more adventure, new experiences and more playtime into their lives through travel.
What does travel mean to you? Take a few minutes to get still and then journal what travel means to you and why you want to travel more. For me, it is the only way I can truly unplug from my job and day-to-day life. It means rest and rejuvenation. Travel also brings the excitement of adventure, the joy of exploring new destinations, the gift of meeting new people, and seeing the world through new eyes. If travel means stress, delays, uncomfortable accommodations and strange food…of course you will not want to travel! If travel is not your passion, don’t make it an intention this year. Maybe your work right now is in other areas of your life.
Overcoming obstacles. If more travel excites you, then let’s look at some of the obstacles holding you back.
I don’t have time to travel. This is an easy one. Do you travel for business? If so, what if you extend your stay over the weekend? Your flight or mileage is already paid for and most companies don’t mind you setting a later return flight date, since it doesn’t cost them more.
I have too much to do or “they can’t get along without me.” Trust me on this, the world, your company and your family will get along without you for a few days or even a week (and maybe have a new appreciation for you after you return). Also, many of us experience increased productivity and focus as we approach a trip and more energy and creativity when we return. So just slogging through your responsibilities when you are tired and haven’t taken a vacation is not doing anyone a favor.
I can’t afford to travel. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive. We will explore the many options for frugal travel in a separate article, but for now, just consider that this message you tell yourself may not be true. Even this small crack in your thinking, gives the universe something to work with in bringing you your highest good.
Health issues keep me from traveling. If your doctor says you are not fit for travel, then please don’t. However, if you want to travel but have special needs, or mobility issues, there are resources for you while traveling. I work with trusted partners that provide special needs equipment rentals (from scooter rentals to oxygen) and even fully escorted Accessible Tour packages world-wide.
If it is the health of a loved one that is keeping you at home, consider getting support from a friend, family member or paid professional to give you respite to travel. This is especially important for primary care-givers. As a care-giver it is so important to have support and be able to take time off to care for yourself, so that you can better care for loved ones. If you don’t stay healthy and rested it is hard to take care of others.
If you aren’t the primary care-giver but still worry about aging parents that may need you unexpectedly, consider buying trip insurance that includes coverage in case a family member becomes ill or is hospitalized. This gives you piece-of-mind that you can cancel or cut short a trip if needed.
I have no one to travel with. There are so many options today for travelling solo, but not alone. Many cruise lines waive single supplement fees on select dates and many land tours offer an opportunity to travel with like-minded people who will enrich, rather than limit your journey. See the February article (link to) Love Yourself with the Gift of Travel, for more tips on traveling solo.
The Intentional Traveler
As an unlimited woman, I invite you to set an intention to travel this year if travel is your heart’s desire. I invite you to try this exercise to attract more travel into your life.
Journal. What are your wishes and desires around travel? If you had all the money & time in the world, where would you go? What’s on your travel bucket list? What are all the obstacles keeping you from travelling now?
Meditate. Take a mental vacation. Sit, relax and breathe –imaging yourself in a desired destination. What do you see? How do you feel? Who is with you? What is the weather? What are the sounds, smells & foods associated with your destination?
Vision Board. Create a travel vision board as a tactile collection of images and quotes that inspire you. I have one in my office that I look at daily as my instant “mini-vacation.” It gives me a restful moment and inspires me to work toward my travel goals. It also serves as a “window” that is an instant mood and energy changer (especially inspiring on gloomy days). I even put a few of my favorite images as my computer screen saver.
Affirmations. Since all the negative messages you have about the obstacles will keep you from your heart’s desire to travel, why not tell a different story? Why not appreciate the views and breaks you already have in your life, instead of focusing on the trip you don’t have yet? Depending on your beliefs, these thoughts can either be offered up as prayers or as affirmations to the universe to attract more travel. A few examples might be:
I have the time and money to travel now
My loved ones are healthy and cared for as I travel
I appreciate my walk along the lake this morning and the beauty in my life today
I enjoy playtime away from home with my family
You can also focus on the inspirational quotes from others. A few of my favorite are:
“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru