travel in your own home

Our enjoyment of journeys may hinge more on our mindset while traveling than on the destination itself. If we could apply a traveling mindset in our own surroundings, we might discover these places to be as captivating as exotic locales.

What, then, is a traveling mindset? Receptivity could be considered its defining trait. We approach new places with humility, devoid of preconceived notions of what is interesting.

It means pausing in unexpected spots, like traffic islands or narrow streets, to appreciate seemingly insignificant details that locals might overlook. It entails risking distraction, even danger, to marvel at the architecture of a government building or the script on a wall. It's finding fascination in everyday places like supermarkets or hair salons. It's examining the nuances of a menu or the attire of passersby. It's being attuned to the layers of history beneath the present, capturing them in photographs and notes.

In contrast, home finds us more complacent and settled in our expectations. We assume we've discovered all its wonders primarily by virtue of having lived there a long time. It seems inconceivable that there could be anything new; we've grown accustomed and, consequently, oblivious.

We can be traveler’s in our own home. Notice what you have already seen. Notice what you have not already seen. Beauty is everywhere. Look.