Something strange and wonderful starts to happen when we travel. Life leaps at you from the coral sunset, from the succulence of dragon fruit, from the constellations of ancient trees dotted by wild monkeys, and from the mysterious traditions diligently practiced by the locals.
Travel, and as if automatically, happiness bursts out of you like sunbeams in the mischievous delight of slurping a nourishing bowl of noodles from a family-run hole in the wall. It pours forth from the endless Crayola-green rice fields that are nothing like any green you ever knew.
All these small things, suddenly, carry more meaning. Life is good, once again. And so we travel, far from the chaos and staleness of our routines, to experience a kind of re-rooting, to find space, to find meaning, and to rediscover who we really are.
The magic unfolds when we travel, not when we simply take a tour. In this era of seat sales, it is easy to take 10 vacations in one year: three nights here, four days there. But before you book those flights, ask yourself: Are you really immersing yourself into the culture of this new country or are you settling for the shallow traps that may look good on Instagram but add no real value to your life?
This year, give yourself the gift of inspired travel. Invest in quality experiences and create the space for true relaxation and transformation to come into your life. When you travel deeper, it does not matter whether you fly out of the country once or twice in a year – it is already worth way more than 10 second-rate trips combined. Check out more reasons below on why you need to go on 1 vacation, instead of 10, this 2020.
1. You experience the real good stuff.
Everyone talks about #livelikealocal but what does that mean? Certainly not spending way too much of your time doing run of the mill, basic tourist activities. Inspired travel means connecting with the people and understanding – even participating, if you are lucky – in their rich culture.
This can be challenging sometimes, because places aching from the negative effects of mass tourism, inadvertently create a subculture that is only for tourists. Investing in a quality program, then, is a must to sift through the shallow and find real depth.
A photo on the Bali swing is cute of course, but what is that compared to visiting a local village, having lunch and cooking dinner with a family that is genuinely happy to show you their customs, and participate in every aspect of village life? Now that is real #livelikealocal bragging stuff!
2. You are able to fully relax and de-stress.
Investing in one amazing vacation multiplies its anti-stress value by 100. You are able to select the most luxurious accommodation that naturally invites peace and calm, in the company of trees, with a healing spa that is next to a gently cascading river. A long list of fun, enjoyable, and meaningful activities are prepared for you, taking away the stress of figuring out where to go and how. Beautiful food is served in front of you, nourishing you from the inside and out. The main thing – your only job – is to enjoy yourself and let the magic of the place restore your happiness and well-being.
3. You save more money!
Inspired travel is chosen and not dictated by budget. It is a hard-won glory against the hollow heart of consumerism. On the surface, it seems like investing in inspired travel costs more money. In reality, you save more by having the best value experiences that you would miss if you go at it alone or settle for less. If you do the math, you will have to spend more if you DIY the long list of fun and relaxing activities that is included in a high quality program. Ultimately, the essential difference lies not in the size of your budget but in making the right choice between the redundant and the indispensable.
Further, one awesome vacation that is filled with life-affirming and transformative experiences is enough to light a fire in your belly and keep you inspired for far longer once you return to your routine. Your bucket of joy will be so full that you will not need to go on your next vacation immediately after you return from your last one.
But at the end of it, it all boils down to a single question: How much is your happiness and well-being worth to you? It is 2020 – it is time to invest in self-care. Imagine what will happen if you dedicate this year to loving yourself more!
Is it time to pick that one vacation to rule them all this 2020? Take a much-needed break, breathe, and recharge in magical Bali. Check out the Relax and De-stress in Bali Retreat on May 22-25, 2020 by Flow Retreats and Thriving Life Retreat. You take care of everyone in your life, it is time to take care of yourself, too!
