Summer Vacation is Upon Us

A Reflection on the Gift of Immersive Travel 

As we embark upon the summer months, the children's school year is complete, temperatures rise, and holiday picnics and pool parties are planned, you may be considering a summer vacation—be that a weekend getaway to the beach, a drive to visit family, or something more extensive like traveling abroad. Interestingly, studies have shown that there are many benefits of just the planning aspects of such a trip, which include reduced anxiety, increased happiness, and a rise in productivity. How amazing is that?! 

I wonder then if you have ever been on a vacation that allowed you to become so immersed that your home and everyday responsibilities faded out of view just enough that you were altered by the very place where you were? Did you become immersed in another culture? Did you have a sense of another time? Have you tasted foods so different, so tangy, so tart, and so altogether unfamiliar? Have you seen sights that you can barely believe were possible—beauty so splendid that your photographs could not truly describe the grandeur? Have you had experiences that have literally taken you out of the ordinary and reminded you that we truly live in such a vast and amazing world? I certainly hope so! 

I also wonder if you have had experiences during your travels that reminded you of the commonality of humanity? Have you felt the kindness of strangers whom you would most likely never meet again? Have you seen in another person's eyes the desire to truly get to know you, be in service to you, and connect with you at a heartfelt level—despite the obvious differences? 

In my six-plus decades upon the earth, I have had the privilege of meeting individuals from all around the globe. Before stepping into my intuitive work full-time, I was an award-winning wedding photographer. I had the privilege and joy of photographing couples and their families from all parts of the world at such celebrated Florida destinations as Bok Tower, Leu Gardens, and the Polasek Museum. And despite our different backgrounds and cultures, the language of love was clearly universal.  

I will always remember one particularly tender wedding in the Orlando area. The couple had met while working in London. He was from a European country and she from Japan. The families gathered after the small wedding ceremony for a lovely luncheon. However, neither family spoke any language other than their own native tongue. And yet, when the two fathers gave their respective toasts to celebrate the happy union, everyone was crying. I even had to push back tears to see through the lens of my camera. We were all blessed that day by the love felt far beyond language.    

I have also had the privilege of traveling to many amazing destinations—a passion and a pastime that I value greatly. I relish the chance to explore other cultures, people, artwork, music, and landscapes, and to capture the locals' heartfelt stories in photographs. My hope is to capture some of the very essence of each place to share with friends and loved ones back home. And while it can be tempting to observe and even judge the differences—those countries, for instance, that drive on the "wrong side" of the road, have unusual styles of clothes and shoes, or season foods with unfamiliar and even off-putting spices—when my awareness is committed to finding beauty and seeking meaningful connection, I have always found an abundance of both. 

In January of this year, I was invited to join a few other adventurous women travelers on a journey to Mysore, India. The group was organized by my wise and treasured friend, Kelli, who had fallen in love with the people and this remarkable country during her previous visits studying yoga. During our visit, Kelli showed us a side of this remarkable county that few would have a chance to see – we stayed in a small, green hotel (once a princess's palace) in a town not always suggested by the standard travel books. We visited a few popular sites, but also visited lesser-known temples. And one of my favorite places was an elephant reservation in a remote village, which required us to cross a wide river on foot via a slippery underwater path (no handrails, just other human hands to help) or on tiny "boats" created from oversized inner tubes and pulled through waist-deep water by a local man. Baffled by either choice, I found the slippery challenge to be delightful, giggling all the way. And the reward of being so close to those majestic elephants was truly enchanting. 

And oh, the charming children that our group encountered… they all seemed so eager and yet so shy, innocent but still wondrously curious. And most amazing was their fascination with the older, white-haired ladies, as though they were seeing an actual Fairy Godmother in person. In a culture like America, which often overlooks its seniors, showing little respect for their aging appearance or reverence for their well-earned wisdom, the little youngsters in India were absolutely gobsmacked by the elders, crowding around them in giddy delight. 

Additionally, and most importantly, were the times we were invited as revered guests into the homes of the families and friends that Kelli had come to love and respect over the years. There, we were often given little gifts, fed homemade meals made with such loving attention, and even bestowed sashes that showed their reverence for our presence and the time spent together. 

A great amount of hope was restored to me by these unexpected connections. So much so that at the airport, my eyes filled with tears as I said my goodbyes to the rickshaw driver and his wife, who had guided us nearly every day with such sincere care, mindfulness, and generosity of spirit. When, if ever, would I see them again?  

There are journeys that take us to places close to home, as well as to foreign lands that may well be impossible to really imagine. And while we may see, taste, feel, and sense much that is out of the everyday norm, I believe all this is so good for our souls. We are here to live fully, love deeply, experience greatly, and become a more evolved version of ourselves. So, be it a trip to the grocery or to see family, every journey can give us an opportunity to give and receive kindness and respect. To love beyond differences. And to find value in the opportunity to know life beyond our own understanding. Sometimes we may have to work harder to see beauty and goodness, but with a willingness to look through that particular lens and perspective, I promise you, they will be there.

I wish you happy travels and merry memory-making!

PS. I'd love for you to share the immersive and meaningful experience of India with me by enjoying this video of some of my favorite photos from that beautiful and welcoming locale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHpas1DyqbI