“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” Mark Twain
Travel is the best.
I remember getting on a plane for the first time when I was 18. I loved the feeling of taking off and being above the clouds.
When I was 21, I went to Europe for the first time, and completely fell head over heals in love with travel.
The airport lounges, the train station (the announcements in a foreign language – music to my ears! I loved the clicking that the numbers on the overhead signs used to make when they changed — all digital now – but I still love looking up and seeing the destinations you can go to), the new food, the places that you hear about and now are standing in front of….
I knew travel would have to be part of my life.
When kids came along, everyone said travel would change. And it did!
Many years of cottage renting, Florida (Disney) and all inclusives. A different kind of travel, but just as awesome!
Now the kids are older and more options open up! City travel, service travel, cultural travel, and safari travel!
I still love the airport lounges, the train stations, the hotel rooms, the foreign buzz… and now I get to turn to some really cool, amazing, fun people – my kids – and share every second with them. Of course, my partner in crime is my rock when I get stressed out during many parts of travel (especially as we get settled into a new spot). No better person to travel with:)
I love that travel has become a huge part of who we are as a family. Who the CDF’s really are.
Sure, we have the grumplestiltskins for sure (especially when tired), but we have the enthusiasts and the adventure seekers too!
There is no better time for our family. We are away from it all. We get to have exclusive time with our kids where we don’t’ have to worry about schedules (not just school and sport, but parenting!) We get to have them for days uninterrupted by other people’s issues, drama and needs.
We each get to expose ourselves to other realities and experience new things that broaden our minds and perspectives. I think we come back with a little bit more of an appreciation of home. Our minds and hearts are filled with memories of adventures and thin moments. And we usually have some really, really funny stories that keep us laughing for years!
What a beautiful privilege it is to travel. I am so grateful for this blessing in our lives.
I love that travel is such an integral part of your lives and couldn’t agree more how interesting it does indeed make life in general.
Janine Huldie recently posted…Truth, Colored Cars & Play Me In Poker
For years after having kids our travel was mostly back to TX to see my family since most of them refuse to make the trip to KS. Now that my grandparents are gone I don’t feel as obligated to always go there for our trips – everyone else is capable of traveling even if they choose not to come here.
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Ah… I love that you have such a free spirit and love to travel!! This post makes me want to do it more!
Chris Carter recently posted…“Raising Big Kids with Supernatural Love”
You’re right – it’s a privilege. A wonderful one.
We’re thick in the Disney of it all, but it’s nice to think about more exotic locations and about my kids being travel partners and not just dependents. Although I’m sure I love it all.
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