TAG’s tips for travel no.16: GET HIGH

We all know this Anxious Girl goes walking to get grounded on vacay. Another way to feel grounded is by getting perspective and there is no better way to get perspective than to GET HIGH.

I’m not talking drugs, I’m talking heights. If finding high places is a hard no for you then just skip this tip, BUT if you are willing to try something that gives you a sense of direction, a sense of place and a sense of dimension all at once, give this tip a try.

Finding that expansive view doesn’t have to be hard. Many cities have upper and lower decks on their tall buildings that are commonly listed on the “Top Ten Things” google search of that city. You may be asking yourself at this point, “Why do tourists like to get so high?”

We search out these high places for the same reason we stand on the edge of the ocean or pull off to overlook in the mountains: when we see and feel expansiveness, the resounding feeling of Earthen grandeur and our corresponding smallness offers us the strongest sense of PLACE and awe.

Yes, it’s good for pics. (Don’t fatal your selfie.) Yes, it’s organized and a thing you get to say you’ve done. Sometimes you have to climb stairs or hike, bus, or be in an elevator for a long time. Sometimes you have to pay or wait in line. Sometimes you get up there and decide it’s too high and then head right back down.

BUT THE VIEW. If you get there and you stay for a few breaths you will find yourself knowing, for at least the time of visual digestion, exactly where you are. You will be nowhere else but in this place. This is why getting high IS for anxious travelers and seasoned travelers alike.

If you start to get nerves, play a game of I Spy; speak to your anxiety by practicing the lost art of curiosity! Can you see where you are staying? What buildings, structures or features do you know? Can you see people? Do you think they are traveling or are they city dwellers? How can you tell? Lastly, if there’s a guide, you can ask them questions.

Perspective is such a sweet remedy for the weary soul. Moments that stretch long with awe are rare. So find yourself up high and gawk awhile.

Big Love & Happy Travels, Brett Jenae, The Anxious Girl