Let's do the time warp again

“Love is the food of life, but travel is the dessert.”

 

Having recently returned from a trip to visit my dear sister, I’ve been pondering the phenomenon of why time seems to slow down while I am on vacation. Even if I am visiting a loved one, and know that our time together will be over all too soon, it still has the effect of a luxuriously slower pace –an expansion of time. Even if I am away on business and attending lots of meetings, it still seems like weeks have passed when I return. Why is that?

What does the old saying, “Love is the food of life, but travel is the dessert” tell us. It seems to imply that it the sweetest part of our life. Since we don’t have dessert at every meal, it is a treat. And for those of us who possess a sweet tooth, it is very often the best part of the meal. At the very least, it is the part of the meal that we look forward to. So perhaps traveling—or more precisely—changing our venue provides that sweet complement to a savory life.

Now the travel part isn’t always fun (think airport security lines.) But the time spent in a different environment can bring about a recharge of the old “batteries”. With new scenery and new adventures, travel allows us to an opportunity to practice being in-the-moment. We don’t want to miss a single thing, so we are keenly aware of all that is happening. Food seems to taste better, the sky seems more spectacular, and our senses are sharpened.

In some cases, it is all so new to us that we really need to focus on what we’re doing. We are out of our comfort zone and must adapt to the changes with some new skill sets. And this doesn’t just apply to exotic travel or extreme outdoor adventures. It could be a simple as cooking something new for you in a kitchen that is not your own.

Ah, so maybe this is the key. When we focus on something, time slows down.  Haven’t you ever become so absorbed in something that you completely lost track of time? Perhaps this is a lesson that travel can teach us. Perhaps the art of focusing is something we could bring to our everyday life. It will never replace the sweetness of travel, but it could serve to refresh us on our daily journey.

Keep focusing on marching forth!