Travel fascinates me. I grew up in a family that took very few vacations, and those were only to visit relatives. The trips we did take tended to be surprises for us kids; they were not designed to incorporate our interests or educate us. I have never really grasped the idea of planning a trip for months in advance, savoring each moment of the preparation and decision-making.
It used to be that vacations would actually make me physically ill. The moment I was not absorbed in accomplishing something, or far enough ahead of schedule that I could get away for a few days, I would relax enough that I would get a cold or the flu and spend the first day or two sick in bed.
It is not that I would rather have someone else work out the details of the itinerary so that I can just follow the steps; I tend not to stick to the details of the plan very well, and I generally prefer working “without a net.” It is more that working out all the details and being completely prepared for every possible situation is not a particularly efficient way to use my time; being flexible tends to work out better for me than being ready for anything.
I think I have grown in this area. I still tend to avoid many of the traditional aspects of what a “vacation” is; for example, the idea of going on a cruise tends to bring out the worst in me.
I enjoy the experience of being immersed in a different culture, or of learning a new set of skills. Actually, I may be more of a pilgrim than someone who goes on vacations.
Pilgrims have a destination, but appreciate that the journey, the pilgrimage, is at least as important as reaching a goal. Many pilgrims understand that each pilgrimage is an opportunity to gain things as well as an opportunity to give some things up. Each pilgrimage is a set of challenges, a set of lessons, a series of steps both inward and outward. There is no set length for a pilgrimage; it can be a journey to a holy site, an approach to walking with friends, a walk through a labyrinth.
Some of my best trips have become pilgrimages; some of my best pilgrimages have lasted for years, at least so far.
What is your favorite pilgrimage so far?
[Image by dmhergert]