Traveling to the Here and Now
Your guide to finding zen and wifi
I’m sitting in the back seat of a grey Toyota Camry driven by a man I don’t know and with whom I can’t communicate.
Yes, my mamma taught me better than getting into cars with strangers. Reality check, though. It’s 2023.
A/C blasting, it’s a million degrees out. A vague aroma of fried rice mixed with something I can’t decipher fills the air.
Welcome to Bangkok.
When he picked me up, I attempted to read his name on the Grab App. I wanted to establish a connection: hello, how are you? But I gave up when I came across the first unpronounceable syllable. If learning Hindi is tough, Thai seems impossible. Have you ever heard its many different tones?
As we stop at a red light, I look outside the window. After living in the Himalayas for so long, immersed in trees, mountains, and quiet, I welcome the chaos, the tall buildings, the many people — even the heat.
My heart is full.
The light turns green, and the driver skillfully sashays through traffic. I find myself caught in the maze inside my head. I think about how years ago I was in a similar car, in the same city with four small children and a husband — now dead, on the way to some posh hotel for a couple of days so we could rest before going to Koh Samui for our summer vacation. Those were my VIP years. And I’ll leave them for another story. It was almost 20 years ago, but my body remembers it all as if it unfolded last Sunday.
We are often so fixated on the to-do lists, on what’s next on the agenda, that we neglect the present moment as a passing space between chores instead of being fully immersed in it. We project into the future. We mull over past regrets. Why do we do that? I don’t want to go that way. I deepen my breath. Inhale for four. Exhale for four. Two rounds, and I am back to the smell of fried rice.
There is so much to be grateful for.
So here are some of the things I’ve learned during the many years of traveling, not just as a flight attendant but as my love for getting on a plane and hitting the sky.
- Dump the Baggage of Expectations
Picture this: you’re on a journey on the other side of the world, and your to-do list is hidden somewhere in your phone. Expectations? Mhhh, not so many. People know you are in a different time zone. They understand Wi-Fi is not always available. You know this is your time to mentally block your eagerness to do it all. You give yourself a break. Trust me, you need it. When you travel, the present moment reigns supreme.
How liberating is that?
2. Oh Hello Sensational Sensory Extravaganza!
I don’t know about you, but when I travel — watching waves crash at a sun-soaked tropical beach, appreciating the sizzle of exotic street food in a bustling market, honoring the feel of ancient temples — it’s a festival of sensations and emotions! How can you not be present when you’re entirely absorbed in these experiences? How can you not dance to the rhythm of life’s beats? The moment you are in captures all your senses. You can’t escape.
What a miracle it is to be alive!
3. A Masterclass in Mindfulness
Mindfulness? That’s just a fancy word for being in the here and now. Think of traveling as the ultimate crash course. You savor your surroundings. You chat with strangers. You pay attention to the small details that make each place unique. These are the moments when you finally feel unburdened by the past or future. It’s where your mind lets its hair down.
Life can be so rich when you’re fully engaged with what is.
4. Meet Others
One of the most exhilarating aspects of traveling is connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Wouldn’t you say so? I love engaging with the locals and finding out their stories. I’m curious about that. The only way to truly get it, though, is by being present and listening. In doing so, you discover a world of empathy and connection that can only be found in the now.
5. Embracing the Impermanence of Life
The beauty of a sunrise over the mountains. The moments of silence inside an ancient temple. The laughter over a glass (or two) of wine was shared with newfound friends. The profound moments of self-discovery… these are all fleeting. This impermanence reinforces the idea that there is only the present moment, as cliché as it may sound.
Each experience is a temporary gift. Let’s cherish it.
What is the moral of the story?
In a world dominated by busy schedules, endless distractions, and the ceaseless pursuit of what’s next, traveling is a reminder that there is only the present moment. It’s a journey for the soul. It reminds us over and over of the impermanence of life. Being in the present is not just a moment. It’s a state of mind. A way of living. And a profound source of joy and contentment.
Whether you’re traveling or not, savor the richness of life that’s always available.
Life is a celebration not to be missed.
Thanks so much for reading.
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