There are many reasons why I travel. First and foremost, exploring a new place and its people, culture, and customs is a kind of therapy. In addition to building amazing memories, travel is a firm reminder of how beautiful and vibrant the world is.

Despite the hardships humanity has been facing the last couple of years, with a global pandemic, collapse of the healthcare and economic systems, and wars waged against neighbors, the world still is worth discovering.

I find that, no matter where I go, even when stepping into a reality that truly differs from my own, people are there to help, be kind, giving, and caring, regardless of their social standing and national origin, or the clothes they wear or language they speak.

The truth is that sometimes life is not fulfilling in the little protective niche that I create around myself. I’ve become so accustomed to my daily routines, jobs, and interactions that I, at times, forget about my role as a citizen of this world and lose perspective on what constitutes a healthy life, both physically and spiritually. Too often I forget about the joys and thrills surfacing from stumbling upon something new for the first time.

Personally, when anxiety and depression start kicking in as a consequence of this so despised feeling of stasis, the most effective remedy I’ve found to break out of the gloom is to hit the road, again, and again.

Being away from home makes me appreciate it even more when I return to it, although I do not long for it necessarily while I’m away on an adventure. Still, knowing that there is a comfortable base to come back to is certainly a reassuring thought. I would never know this, were it not for travel.

I feel that words fall short of capturing the essence and soul of the places I visit, people I meet, and cultures I encounter. Since there is no substitution for a first-hand experience, the best I can offer is an account, through images and words, of how these places have impacted me and continue to shape my persona as I journey through life.

When you are on a journey, whether you are a seasoned traveler or a rookie, I hope that you will travel with keen senses and an independent mind, with confidence and an open heart.

From out Travel Mindful Slow Journal