Traveling is also returning to yourself

Many people travel to see places. Others, to rest. Some to escape from routine. But over time I understood that, many times, traveling also means finding yourself again.

For years I have had a deep connection with travel and not only because of the destinations, but because of everything that happens to me internally when I get away from everyday life and allow myself to look at the world with different eyes.

Traveling has transformed me. It changed my times, my priorities and even the way I look at life.

I am 58 years old, I am a lawyer, mediator and coach, making these activities possible for me to travel and work at the same time.

In a time where everything seems fast-paced, discovering a city by walking slowly, listening to different languages ​​or simply contemplating the sea for several minutes can become a deeply restorative experience, at least for me.

One of the places that left the biggest mark on me was Australia. There I found something difficult to describe in words: a unique combination of tranquility, nature and freedom that seems to be part of the landscape and everyday life.

But Australia is much more than a destination for me and over time it has become my second home, because my children chose that country to build their lives. Therefore, each trip has a special and deep meaning and I feel immensely grateful to be able to visit them frequently.

I have indelible memories of long walks along Australian beaches, as there is something almost therapeutic about walking along the shore while the water caresses my feet and the constant sound of the waves seems to put my thoughts in order. In those moments, time acquires another rhythm and everything seems to find its place.

But Australia also lives in my memory through its cities, the incessant movement of people arriving from all over the world, the aromas that mix in its streets reflecting an extraordinary cultural diversity and the sound of ferries and trains passing through the urban routine.

It is those small details that end up building the essence of a place and make you want to return again and again.

Many times we believe that traveling consists only of moving from one place to another and, however, some destinations have the capacity to produce internal changes.

They are not always big or immediate changes. Sometimes they are small discoveries: learning to enjoy calm, encouraging yourself to talk to strangers, understanding other cultures or valuing simple things that go unnoticed in your daily routine.

I also discovered that there is no single correct way to travel since there are those who love to plan every detail and those who prefer to get lost in the streets without a map. There are travelers looking for extreme adventure and others who simply need to sit in front of the sea and breathe.

All forms of traveling are valid when they generate genuine emotions and I have chosen to do it in all possible ways.

I have been fortunate to be able to travel with my parents who are over 80 years old, with my husband most of the time, with my children, my sister, my nieces, friends and also alone on some occasions.

I do it by plane, by boat, by motorhome, by train, by car, by motorcycle and I will surely find some other way to do it.

In recent years, furthermore, tourism has changed profoundly. After difficult times worldwide, many people began to choose more human experiences, more connected to nature and less linked to rapid consumption.

Today authenticity is valued more and travelers no longer only look for perfect photographs, but we also look for real experiences, conversations, stories, local culture and contact with people.

This also explains the growth of sustainable tourism, ecotourism and trips aimed at emotional well-being.

More and more people have understood that traveling is not only a luxury or a distraction. It can be a tool for personal growth.

Even a short trip can generate new perspectives.

Sometimes it is enough to change the landscape to organize ideas, make important decisions or recover energy.

Travel also teaches tolerance because when you get to know other cultures you understand that there are many ways of living, thinking and feeling and that experience broadens our perspective and makes us more empathetic.

Perhaps that is why people who travel tend to remember emotions more than itineraries and although with the passage of time I can forget street names, times or exact routes, the feeling of freedom of certain moments remains intact in me.

The emotion of looking at an unknown landscape for the first time or the simple happiness of sharing a conversation with someone from the other side of the world remains in my memory.

That is why I believe that traveling is never an unnecessary expense but rather an investment in experiences, memories and human growth.

And perhaps the most valuable thing is to understand that, in the end, each trip leaves behind something much more important than photographs or souvenirs.

Leave a new version of ourselves.