Just keeping it real here... travel isn't always glamorous.
flights get delayed, luggage gets lost, you get stuck in traffic, the accommodations you booked aren't as amazing as the pictures made them out to be, people in the 'enchanting' place you're visiting are actually very rude to you, the country goes on strike and you have to change your plans last minute because all transportation shuts down, the weather turns ugly, and so on... These are all things that have happened to me in various travel situations, and they come to mind when I sit and reflect on my experiences. But my trips are always so magical that even the challenges can be turned into positives, often making the journey even more memorable. It's all about flexibility and perspective!
Here's how I see it...
✈ Flights get delayed: It happens. If it's a mechanical issue, I'd rather be safe than sorry!
🧳 Luggage gets lost: No worries—I have travel insurance, and it's a chance to go shopping!
🚗 Stuck in traffic: A great time to reflect on the amazing things that have happened or are to come!
😳 People are rude to you: It becomes a memorable story to share later. Like the time I got screamed at by a man in an alley in NYC who had to be hauled off by the police. I'll never forget that one!
🚌 Country goes on strike: Detour! We ended up taking a very long bus ride to a different country, which turned into the experience of a lifetime.
🏚 Accommodations aren't what you expected: As long as you are safe, it becomes a great story to tell. Like the hotel where the shower door didn't really do anything and the floor in the bathroom would flood because the water could not be contained. That was the same hotel that had the dirtiest walls I'd ever seen, the worst food I'd ever tried to eat, an underage bartender who wasn't allowed to serve drinks, and halls (in England's mid-winter) that they didn't heat. 🥶 Since we were safe and didn't want to go anywhere else, we endured... and today, it's one of our greatest laughs!
💨 ☔️ Weather turns ugly: I once heard the saying, 'There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing,' and it has stuck with me. I generally agree, but when I nearly got blown off my feet by hurricane-force winds in Iceland, I realized it wasn't about having the wrong clothes! However, navigating through such extreme weather, hunkering down in a shaking cabin all night, and experiencing Iceland's raw power made me even more in awe of the country and provided some hilarious stories to share.
Travel enlightens, grows, challenges, and refreshes me—that's why I love it so much. Even the 'bad' experiences are never truly bad to me—just new, different, unexpected, and opportunities to truly live life.
Ultimately, I don't just find joy in the destination. I find joy in the journey. Sometimes I have to look for it, or wait until after I've had time to reflect, but it always finds its way to me.
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