A Reflection on Wanderlust…
Growing up, travel was an unattainable luxury. Our travel “fund” was reserved for the long and expensive trips back home to Buenos Aires (and even those were few and far between, much to my mom’s heartache). Despite living just a few hours away, we didn’t get to visit Disney World until I was 16 years old, and I wouldn’t venture out to my much-dreamed-about NYC until I was 22 and on my way to a paid post-graduate internship in the city. Yet, the lack of mobility never hindered my wander – my curiosity always kept me exploring, even when journeying wasn’t an option.
As I’ve gotten older, travel has become, dare I say, essential to my well-being. I reap the same joy from simple, nearby escapes as from long-planned, far-away adventures – each equally important, spiritually enriching and culturally invigorating. That’s why I’d much rather spend 10 days immersed in a city than “bucket-listing” my way through Europe. Each visit provides me with the opportunity to discover a different corner of the world, a space not before known to me, a spot in which I can observe life from a first-row, 3D-cinema seat.
Over the years, I’ve realized that travel isn’t as much a luxury as it is a privilege. No matter the destination, the currency for my travels is my own curiosity. The thrill is unearthing the unknown. The souvenirs are the inspirations, lessons, photos or newfound "faves" I bring back with me. It's about the unfamiliarity – the flavors of local dishes, the getting lost from time to time only to find you've arrived exactly where you wanted to be, the delight of connecting with a stranger through food or smiles or "a little bit of English, a little bit of French.” That’s the magic of travel. It’s that magic that exhilaratingly and humbly feeds my desire to experience it again and again.
Close-by or far-away, I don’t take any journey for granted. I’m immensely grateful to now have the chance to feed my wanderlust more frequently (and do so more unapologetically, though not always guilt-free). As this year’s potential for travel begins to open up (I’m hopeful), I’m more inspired than ever to read as many chapters, verses and poetic snippets of the world as I possibly can. May they each feed me in unimaginable ways – and inspire some more writing, too. 😉