The Grass Is Always Greener: A Reflection of Travel

By: Dani Dominguez

I am a traveler.

In fact, we all are.

By definition, traveling simply means the act of moving from one place to another. We do this every day, from the moment we wake up to the moment we fall back asleep. Sometimes our travels take us to a faraway place, sometimes they take us somewhere closer, like to the fridge in the kitchen.

Traveling is change, and change is the only constant. We are continually growing, evolving, learning, yet it can be so easy to feel stagnant, to find yourself in a rut.

Sometimes we can get so used to our daily routines, the people and places we encounter, that they sort of blend together and lose their luster. We grow indifferent towards the landscapes in our own backyard when in reality they are just as remarkable as those faraway lands.

When we travel, our eyes are opened to a myriad of details about where we are; we are trying to familiarize ourselves with a new environment. We pay attention to details: the bright flowers blooming on the sidewalks, the aromas of fresh food, the sounds of birds singing and friends chatting. This attention to detail allows us to notice and experience a great deal while we are in a foreign place.

Traveling and getting out of your comfort zone is vital to living a fulfilled, well-rounded life. We grow by trying new things and putting ourselves into new and unfamiliar situations. While our budgets may not allow for constant jet-setting, the Travelers’ Philosophy that leads to personal growth and fulfillment can be applied to our daily lives.

I encourage you to try to look at your hometown, or wherever you may find yourself this week, through the eyes of a traveler. Look around as if you are a visitor, experiencing it for the first time. To do this, you will need to slow down. Stop and smell the roses. Pay attention to the way the sunset lights your city, as well as the details that are unique to where you are geographically. The mountains or forests that are seemingly mundane are actually teeming with life and beauty.

Every city is exceptional in its own way. Take a moment to appreciate it.