Value of Travel
There are many fun travel ideas that can boost your enjoyment as well as business at halftime. Of course, when we’ve talked about travel ideas in the past, visions of cruises, pristine coasts that stretch for miles, museums that spark our imagination and food that delights the pallet come to the forefront of our mind. However, in today’s world climate as I write this, we are in the middle of a pandemic of isolation and sequestration with the virus, Covid19. What will we do when this is over? Can we get past the fear to travel again? We have to! Many travel ideas have the ability to boost our business with opportunities to speak, write and entertain and we can’t be afraid to move forward.
Our head trash (thoughts that make us feel stuck) holds us back, especially with unhealthy fear. But traveling blows the lid off the thought that something’s impossible. With travel, you see how others are able to carve out a living all over the world in even the remotest of places. Even if traveling virtually, it puts a lot of life and even business in perspective!
Look to the Past
John Locke, English philosopher of the 17th century (1632-1704) wrote the Essay Concerning Human Understanding, where he wrote, If you spend too much time in one place, you can ‘use up’ its educational value. In other words, in order to grow, you must change locales. In Victorian England, for example, travel abroad was more than just a mark of privilege. A change of scenery was a mandatory part of an upper-class education. It was a rite of passage that marked a superior understanding of the world.*
Philo of Byzantium (280-220 BC) was a Greek engineer, physicist and writer on mechanics. He was already listing his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, found in an ancient manuscript.** Travel has the power to broaden the mind, increase tolerance and connect us with others. Also, the more we understand each other, there is a greater possibility of understanding ourselves!
Virtual Travel Ideas
As well as physical travel, there are growing numbers of virtual travel opportunities available. In fact, before we visited the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, we were able to view a tour of every room with the highlights of each on our TV monitor, virtually. This was so helpful as we even recognized the stairways and the décor upon walking in the massive building when actually visiting. In fact, if you visit the American Museum of Natural History website, they now have virtual tours online.
Do a Google search and you will find a number of museums that are offering virtual tours online. We had to cancel/postpone a 15-day cruise traveling up the Rhine River from Amsterdam to Lucerne at the end of this month. As I was researching some of their online virtual tours, I am excited to re-book this trip at some point. I refuse to let unhealthy fear get in the way! Our present sequestration won’t last forever! In fact, Viking Cruises started live-streaming daily! Check it out! (Viking.TV)
Importance of Saving
Travel takes money if you want to leave your house. However, it doesn’t have to take a lot of money. Even short local day-trips are good for the soul and psyche. But any extended trip, especially overseas, takes planning and saving.
Even when it feels like there’s no money left in the month, putting a little aside weekly, skipping a latté or two, helps. Saving towards a goal keeps you productive, keeps you interested and keeps things exciting. If you have younger kids or grandkids, get them involved in the process. Because I homeschooled our three sons for a few years, we were able to take many day-trips. We had very little extra money, but recycling and other small projects helped us set money aside for even ski vacations with the whole family. Our youngest was only two when first on the slopes and he was amazing!
Importance of Planning and a Goal
A goal and a plan give you a good reason to save and to work hard to free up business during times of travel. I began this year with the goal to begin putting 75% of my business online, much of it automated. This has taken very hard work and planning on my end.
I’ve had to upgrade software and platforms, re-format online courses and delve into my nerdy side to figure out more of the tech involved. The process has added many hours to my day and work week, but I believe it will pay off. I ask myself often, What better is there to do in a time of sequestration? With part of my work presently and in the future, I double-dip on traveling with my husband. Even if I’m working, it will feel like a mini-vacation, depending on the locale.
Live with No Regrets
Greg and I are in a window of time for travel during our halftime years. During the past few years, we ushered both sets of parents into their heavenly home and realized how quickly time flies by. Many of you reading this are probably in that same stage of life. Officially halftime is after age 40, but most really realize they’re there in their 50’s. (see: How Do You Know You’re at Halftime?)
I don’t want to look back and wish I had spent that month in Italy researching my ancestry because of health or other concerns. I will go ahead and plan to live with no regrets. Even if trips are postponed for now, I believe they will happen. I hope you do too!
*Beyond Wealth by Alexander Green, p.83 **https://www.ancient.eu/The_Seven_Wonders/
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