How to Slow Travel and Savor Each Moment
Location: Rockport, TX
Dress: Rihoas / Earrings: Caitlyn Minimalist / Shoes: Steve Madden / Purse: Michael Kors / Jacket: L’Agence (code: RTRXCLOWY)
After years of traveling, ah-em… I mean decades! I decided that the fast-paced life is not for me. Growing up, my parents took us all over the world. Partly because my Dad was in the military, and partly because my Mom was a travel junkie. She yearned to see as much as she could on our journeys. When we moved overseas, she would learn as much as she could about the language and customs so that she could get herself around. It had such a huge impact on my own life. I learned a lot from both of my parents growing up and have both fond and challenging memories of our travels. One thing that stuck out to me was how much we would walk to see as many sights as possible. Although it was really cool to be able to reflect back later in high school and college courses and remember the sites that were actually listed in the textbooks I would read, I have memories of my little legs aching to stop and just sit. Mom always had a schedule, and that schedule we had to hit the sites, or we might never see them.
As I grew older, I went on a study abroad program for college. I traveled one Summer all over Germany, France, and Switzerland, and I remember it being a complete whirlwind. I ached to come back and live there for a long period of time so that I could fall into the everyday life of Europe’s pace. I remember returning home after that Summer and wanting to walk to get my groceries and stop driving completely. Moving forward, I would end up marrying someone who was a hurricane in a person. The kind of guy who said, “Pack your bags, we are leaving in 20 minutes!” and actually meant it. Again, whirlwind. We would hop on flights or take off in my convertible, only stopping for a few days at a time.
All of these experiences had the same thing in common: too much crammed into too little time. I began to solo travel and experience life on my own terms. At first, I found myself falling into the same habits. But then, something shifted, and I felt the whisper of the Lord telling me to slow down. That’s just what I did. I developed a ritual before leaving, each morning during travel, and when I would come home. If I had back-to-back trips, that was fine because I had a system. I planned itineraries for each trip, but left both my wardrobe and activities open if I saw something more fun or appealing pop up. The trips became a way to actually unwind while still being active in running my social media, blog, and capturing photographs for clients. So how did I do it? Well, first of all I stopped rushing. When traveling, I accepted that I was on the Lord’s time, not mine.
If I hit traffic, so what? The Lord had different plans for me. If I were delayed because of rain? So what? The Lord had different plans for me. If a restaurant was closed when I arrived, well, the Lord wanted me to eat somewhere else. I began to implement the thought process that everything that I would go through was being arranged by God for me. It was a total relief. I was able to rest, eat, and actually enjoy each day.
Traveling with two kids is more challenging as a single mom. I’ve got it down when I take one at a time, still working through taking them both, and getting adequate rest. I will report back when I have this nailed down, but just know that the more people you include… the more complications there are. If you are starting out and can go by yourself, do this. If you only take one family member, that’s doable, too. If you are traveling with a caravan of people - it’s more chaotic. Alone is not a bad thing. I find that my relationship with the Lord is deepened when it’s just me. If you are traveling with family, carve out an hour or two for just you. Have your spouse or eldest watch the kids so you can get downtime each day. Ask for extra help when loading and unloading.
The other thing I think that really helps is to journal. Ask for your coffee in a real cup and go sit and journal. Write down the memories while you are there. Notice the details of the places you visit. Teach your kids to do the same. Set up the tripod and take pictures of yourself if no one else will. Do not apologize for taking your time. If there is one lesson I learned from my mother, it’s to be unapologetic about getting the photograph or being ready for the day. She did not care at all what anyone thought about either of those activities, no matter how late we were or how long it took. My mom was right. Take your time and do not allow others to rush you. If they are going at a different pace, that’s fine. Have them leave and return when you are ready.
Lastly, don’t forget your spiritual life. Starting with a few bible verses or just beginning your day with a brief devotional helps so much! The Lord is there - invite him to show you what you should do with your time. Allow him to lead you. This will reframe everything about your trip. It will be less about theme parks and more about savoring the simple things. Having a conversation with a local, or giving a really high tip to that waitress with two kids at home. Let the Lord lead your heart and you will find the slowness overflow. For more slow travel tips, subscribe to Sunday Letters, where I share reflections on travel, style and faith.
