Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge felt like a simulation - a great escape.
Is that thing real? Am I really here?
Who threw me into this Zoom background while I wasn't looking?
This picture is from a friends' trip to NorCal I took this past March. It was a much-needed break from the stressful months I've had switching jobs and helping my family pay the bills. With planning starting back in December, I built up some insane anticipation to hop on my 6-hour United flight.
And when we landed? Oh boy, we saw famous sights like the Painted Ladies, went on a wine tour in Sonoma Valley, and spent more than $150 going up and down the CalTrain every day. We laid in the Friendship Garden, watched an acrobatic show on Pier 39, and cable-car'd our way up and down the San Francisco hills.
Our time was spent exploring new places, eating good food, and soaking in the colors of a sunny (but windy) California.
Unfortunately, that high didn't last the whole trip.
The back of my mind was worried about the work I needed to catch up on after I came back. I was also anxious about overspending my budget and feeling guilty about having fun while the world was hurting in war, sickness, and everyday hardship.
Please don't get me wrong - my trip was a 100% positive experience; 5/5 stars on Yelp. I had generous friends who housed me, I planted my feet on a different side of the Earth, and I made memories to last a lifetime.
However, I also recognized that the stress from the past few months was not going away just because I was on vacation.
The problems I have back home will still be problems wherever I am. Even if I can distract myself with new stimulants, pushing a balloon of feelings down water will only increase the pressure it needs to come up.
As I take the time to reflect, I am reminded that running away from feelings will only delay their impact on me. That is why I want to prioritize a daily mindfulness practice (like meditating or journaling) in and out of vacation so I can address these problems at the root. That way, I can cultivate a more robust inner peace that leaves my heart open for new experiences.
Hopefully, we'll all be doing cool things over the next few months. When we do, can we remember?
Don't let escapism detract from honest exploration.
Quick Reflections:
What is your favorite travel memory, and what did it do for you?
What is preventing you from traveling more (locally or farther), and how do you feel about that?
Do you feel an urge to run away from anything?
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