Jillian’s December 1 Post: Sharing, by Slowing Down

As the holidays approach and many of us feel the stress of the season, along with the stresses of our country during this most challenging time, I remember a suggestion to savor our experiences, and share, that I learned from Gloria, a woman I interviewed for Change Your Life Through Travel:

"That sense of wonderment — which is what travel does to you, wondering what is around the next corner — we can bring that home, if we have that wanderlust in our hearts."

"Even if I’m just going to the store to go shopping," she said, "I always try to take a route I don't know. I try to experience a different way of coming home because I'll never learn anything if I always take the same way home. So I experience a different street, a different little community, sidewalks and trees. I see different houses and gardens and flowers. I liken it to traveling because you never know what’s going to be around the next corner," she said.

On the afternoon that I interviewed Gloria, she had just come from a hospital visit to see a friend, who was one of several critically ill companions that Gloria regularly cared for. "I did that today, going to the hospital," Gloria said. "I took a completely different route and got totally lost. And I was laughing so hard at myself I had to stop on the side of the road to laugh. It was my own little way of traveling to someplace new,” she said, “and only traveling in my head."

Perhaps this was what helped make Gloria a comforting caregiver. She kept finding ways to fuel her own joy so, when she arrived with others, she had plenty to share.

Happy Holidays to everyone: May we all continue to savor simple experiences, and share.