"Travel brings power and love back into your life."
I knew that Rumi was wise! And so it is true. Traveling is one of the more therapeutic experiences we can pursue in our life (others include running, gorging on chocolate and watching movies...) that strengthens your emotional health. I heard once that one's happiness is prolonged when they spend
money on experiences versus material items. I would have to agree! I just returned from a few day trip up to Boston and I feel rejuvenated and...well, joyful!
I went to Boston for a training on facilitative leadership, which lasted two full days. Free time was limited to the evening after training and after spending a whole day cramming, the only thing I wanted to do was relax. Plus, the week I was there Boston had been hit with a giant snowstorm so it was just a teeny bit cold...BUT I was strategic in planning my exit out of Boston. I chose a midday flight back home just so I could squeeze in some exploration time. And man, was it worth it!
Friday morning I got up really early. Equipped with my map of Boston and a long list of places to try, I was ready. Except for the single digit freezing temperature...but hey, at least it was sunny right? Bundling up in multiple layers was a given. We're talking leggings and jeans and three pieces of fabric covering my head. I wanted to try out the North End of Boston, which is their version of Little Italy. It was a little over a mile away from my hotel, which is a 33 minute walk according to Google Maps. I decided to take the walk versus spending 3 times the fare with Uber. I'm young, right? Cold is nothing but an uncomfortable temperature...*
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Boston not the Arctic! |
And so began my walk. It started out great! I stayed in the Seaport area of Boston so I liked seeing the water and the docks and the sun off the water was beautiful! I was probably the only person walking within a mile radius with a giant smile plastered on her face. About fifteen minutes in, the wind hit. This wasn't your typical wind you would experience on a strangely blustery day in DC. This was straight up Chicago style wind that made you want the ground to materialize a hole to jump into. Snow began drifting off the snow walls and hitting my face, my nose started running and it just wasn't a pretty sight. Regardless, I persevered. If the woman wearing panty hose and a peacoat to work could walk in this, so could I!*
After forty minutes and a dead iPhone from frostbite, I made it to my destination: Mike's Pastry. All I asked for from the concierge was a place to get authentic Boston cream pie (haha...tourist) and man was I not disappointed! The slice was amazing and so was the coffee. As my toes thawed and sugar entered my system, I thought of another place to go. With forty minutes left before I had to leave to be at the airport, I decided on Paul Revere's home. I had heard that not only does the North End have bricked sidewalks (see: picturesque but buried beneath snow), it also has a lot of history! So I decided to educate myself in addition to having the most deserved slice of pie I can remember.
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Selfie in front of the Paul Revere Bell. |
Five minutes and $3.50 later, I was standing in the oldest house in Boston. I like history so this was a cool experience! The tour lasted probably 20 minutes or less but it was nice to be standing in all that history! I walked around a little more on the Freedom Trail, which is a path that goes throughout the area linking you to historic landmarks in Boston. After an endless wait for an Uber (which resulted in a little more sightseeing) I was heading back home.
This creeping feeling of accomplishment began washing over me. What had I just done?! Walked around in single digit temperatures by myself in a city I've never visited. All for what? A slice of pie, a unique historic experience and the knowledge of another city. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. And I have to say, traveling alone isn't half bad! You just need to worry about yourself and making decisions is so much easier. Although it was just a morning of exploration, it reminded me of my summer abroad and how traveling and exploration really does open your mind up.
Although it can be costly, traveling should be something we prioritize and aim to do in our twenties because we have the free time and energy to explore! I love going on adventures and it isn't until we put ourselves in situations we are not used to or comfortable in that we grow and learn more about other cultures and cities but also about ourselves.
Next time you're about to drop cash on a new gadget or piece of clothing, I encourage you to consider saving it for your next adventure :)