I sit writing this on a grey December evening. The temperatures
have dropped down in London and though I would have liked to hold on to the autumn
colours a little longer, I can’t deny the long winter nights. They have
arrived.
December is a month for reflection, to sit back and take note
of how the year has gone by, learnings and achievements, and to plan
ahead. We are always reinventing ourselves, most of the times we are unaware of
this, but each new experience, a new memory, paves way for personal growth. We
mould, we change and, yet we stay the same.
We are all a collection of
memories after all, so what memories did I create this year? What stories do
my travels tell? What do they teach?
Live in the Moment.
When we went chasing the Norther Lights in January this
year, it made me realize the importance of being in the moment. Of the seven
nights standing in the cold and waiting for the magic to happen, we got our
moment on just one night. They came, first a slight streak of green, then they
deepened, flickering, singing and dancing, and then without a warning they
vanished.
Like the Northern Lights, life flashes before your eyes. So,
take in each moment. Live in the moment. Do not let it pass without
experiencing it, without saying a gratitude prayer.
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Chasing the Norther Lights, Iceland,
January 2017
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Life Ebbs and Flows.
Do not resist it. Embrace it. Nature is a constant reminder
of the ebb and flow of life. The sun never questions why it must set every
night. The seashells weathered by the ocean waves, rise again, to be polished by the
same waves and find place in the hands of curious little children at the beach.
The autumn leaves fall with grace to give way to the white winters. Nature
reinforces that everything around us is temporary, including our hardships and
challenges. Life is always in a state of flux — it’s constantly flowing and
constantly changing. My travels remind me of this. Each time I climb up a
mountain, walk through a forest, bathe in the sea, I am reminded that
everything happens for a reason. If I am feeling low today, I will get back up
tomorrow with more vigour. And if I am riding on a high wave, the tide will
come sooner than later taking me down with it.
What I can do is, accept this ebb and flow of life, even
appreciate it.
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High on Irish Coffee, Kerry, Ireland,
April 2017
|
There’s no Light without Shadows. No Love without Trials.
My
trip to Rome was the first time I felt my travel mojo withdrawing, but then
the city turned its magic on me and I fell in love despite my initial
apprehensions. Rome taught me that falling in love is a process, that
maintaining a positive attitude through uncertainties will always see you
through. You need to give life a chance, love a chance, travel a chance!
Don’t be too eager to judge, don’t let hearsay or
pre-conceived notions be roadblocks in your journey.
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Bowing down to the magnificence, The
Colosseum, Rome, April 2017
|
Shift from Doing to Being.
Every year we take at least one beach holiday where we do
absolutely nothing. While each of our travels is a way to unwind, this one time
we just let life pass by as we soak in the sun, listening to the waves, reading
good books, watching the sunset, tuning out everything else. We go without a
plan in mind, no travel lists, no places to visit, no background on what, when,
where. We make a conscious shift from doing to just being. It is important to
do so to create balance, create wholeness and to connect with yourself.
You need to meditate through travels too.
![]() |
Being swooned by the sunset, Dubrovnik,
Croatia, May 2017
|
Home is a State of Mind.
I have always believed that impermanence and change is the
only constant in life. More so, since we moved abroad three years back. It is
the memories then, that brick by brick build a home. It is the feeling then, of
being loved and loving back, a place, a person, a memory that is home. And each
travel helps us create these memories, another brick that goes in our forever
evolving home.
![]() |
Feeling blessed, La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona,
July 2017
|
The only Journey is the one Within
When I am travelling, I rediscover myself in a new light.
There are no masks that I am wearing. There isn’t a familiar face or a known
surrounding, travelling gives an opportunity to get away from everything and
everyone known. I am able to connect to my true self outside of things –
outside of the expectations, outside of the routines, outside of the normal. I
rediscover the joys of unabashed laughter, of putting yourself first, of
dancing on the streets, of rolling down a hill. I rediscover the hidden corners
of my heart and every travel helps me take a journey ‘into’ myself.
![]() |
Being myself, Bratislava, Slovakia,
August 2017
|
Importance of Advancing, Not Perfecting.
In life, we all are on our own paths of being awesome. We
strive for excellence, but one should allow for imperfections too. For who is
perfect, right? There should be wiggle room for imperfections, for mistakes. I
have been trying to teach myself to not be too hard on myself. Earlier, during
my travels I had to tick off all the must-see places that made the list of ‘Top
Ten’ or ‘Must Visit Attractions’, I had to take the perfect picture, eat at the
recommended restaurants and so on. It became too much of a pressure, too much
of an effort. And I turned sour when I missed out on the chances of capturing
these ‘perfect’ moments. I let the idea of achieving perfection, ruin the
almost perfect journey that was happening right in front of me. Now I focus on
advancing, of the heart and mind. I am embracing life, even the missteps. And I
am a much happier person.
Let me end this post with a confession. The first few days into this month I was feeling really low. Self doubt badgering me, screaming in my head - A year has flown by and what have you accomplished? You are so far from my goals, You've been sitting at home for a year doing nothing, You are not good enough - and me at constant edge trying to dodge these remarks. After a few sleepless nights, I wrote this. And it has given me such joy to look back on my travels and reflect on the lessons learnt. To know how far I've come this year, how I've grown, how I am much closer to my truth.
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Embracing Life, Oia, Santorini, Greece, October 2017
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Let me end this post with a confession. The first few days into this month I was feeling really low. Self doubt badgering me, screaming in my head - A year has flown by and what have you accomplished? You are so far from my goals, You've been sitting at home for a year doing nothing, You are not good enough - and me at constant edge trying to dodge these remarks. After a few sleepless nights, I wrote this. And it has given me such joy to look back on my travels and reflect on the lessons learnt. To know how far I've come this year, how I've grown, how I am much closer to my truth.
Just so beautiful Aditi! This account is such an effortless flow of emotions and your thoughts give an insight to the wonderful person that you are!
ReplyDeleteStraight from the heart. So beautifully written..
ReplyDeleteThose are some lovely lessons you've learnt and your travels seem amazing. I'm a tad envious of your ability to travel so much! :D But then again, I long for routine after about three weeks of travel so I can't really complain. The pictures are beautiful. You've had a lovely 2017 and hope 2018 is even better!
ReplyDeleteLoved your lessons and I couldn’t agree more! I feel that each year/month has things to offer. It depends on us how we want to learn from that situation.
ReplyDeleteSuch fabulous travels, Aditi! Wishing you an even better and happier 2018. Stay blessed!
Reflections are a great thing and you have done yours with such depth and joy- fulfilling is the word that came to my mind reading this and each of your lesson resonates with me too. Step back and enjoy life, we are certainly not here to accomplish all in one day or even one year!! Pace the journey with love and relaxation too. Hope the coming year brings more joy n gratitude Adi π
ReplyDeleteI so loved this post, Aditi. Direct dil se!
ReplyDeleteTravel teaches you so much...life teaches you so much. Some of the things you mentioned here are just what I needed to read today. So, thank you! <3 :)
This is a wonderful post. Deserves to be shared on LinkedIn as well. I loved how you drew references from your journeys.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
CRD
Do drop by mine.
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There are some great lessons here! I think so many people forget about the ebb and flow of life, and then they get caught up in worrying when things aren't at their absolute best.
ReplyDeleteBritt | http://alternativelyspeaking.ca
Gosh!! That's a lot of travel and life lessons from travel, wow, nice!! Absolutely in awe that you did so much traveling in the year that went by. Travel opens up your mind like nothing else does. Wishing you an even more exciting 2018, that involves loads of travel and writing as well!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post on giving life and love a chance, living in the moment during travel that truly educated one in offering a limitless perspective. But, guess one also needs the moolah for travel :)
ReplyDeleteDecember is a month for reflection, to sit back and take note of how the year has gone by, learnings and achievements, and to plan ahead. We are always reinventing ourselves, most of the times we are unaware of this, but each new experience, a new memory, paves way for personal growth. We mould, we change and, yet we stay the same. minibus hire dewsbury
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