The Consciousness of Travel: How I Found Paradise in New York City
The more I travel, the more I realize that I don’t need to travel to be happy.
Here's the thing: if you can’t enjoy your life as it is now, then you won’t enjoy your life more if you live in cool city (or whatever your version of paradise is).
This weekend in New York City, I was wandering about Little Italy with my friend Heather Halliday and we ended up getting gelato. We looked for a place to sit and there happened to be a small Franciscan church right between the gelato stand, so we walked up to it and sat on the simple church steps.
Just. Like. That. I was back in Italy, eating gelato, admiring an exquisite cathedral in Assisi.
It was a glorious moment. Everything was perfect, and I wasn’t even in Italy. I could have been in a Little Italy in any city.
The experience you have of life (and travel) will be determined by the level of consciousness you bring, not by what happens to you. My weekend in NYC brought home what it really means to feel alive.
1. It’s not about where you are, it’s who you are being that counts.
Who cares if you hustle your way to St. Tropez, but you destroy your soul in the process. Your soul cares about who the kind of person you are becoming on your journey, not about the external trappings of success. (The funny thing is, the more YOU you become, the more the external signifiers of success will come to you.)
2. You get to decide if you interpret events as obstacle or opportunities.
Even on this short 4-day trip to New York, I caught myself beating myself up for not packing the right stuff. Each time I found myself saying, “Ugh, I should have…” I stopped and changed it to, “I am not going to let this ruin my trip.”
I immediately felt a wash of relief come over me and within a few minutes, I forgot the whole ‘mistake.’ My experience of my trip is my own responsibility.
3. The love and intention you put into what you create is REAL.
I stayed at a gorgeous 3-story AirBnB home with 11 other ladies in NYC. We could tangibly feel the good vibes from this home and when we texted the owner saying commenting on how lovely the one felt she responded, “Love built that home.” Before the renovations, she sat in each bedroom and imagined how she wanted her guests to feel.
Each room in the house is meticulously designed with a theme and with positive quotes hanging on the walls everywhere. I could feel the love and I know that AirBnB will be a lighthouse of people because it radiants love.
4. Beauty is everywhere (not just reserved for epic cities)!
I had a moment of cognition walking through Brooklyn that these cute houses looked really familiar… it hit me. The brownstones looked like the homes I saw in Amsterdam when I was in the 2011ish!
I laughed at this thought because it was yet another reminder, I don’t have to go far to enjoy life. Joy and wonder for the beauty that is life can be found every minute of everyday. We just have to look for it.
I love travelling because it helps me to see everything with fresh eyes. Still, a joyful and fulfilling life always comes back to perspective.
I choose to live my life in a way that I am equally as happy when I am travelling, as when I’m at home.
Don't let vacation airline billboards fool you. The magic of life can still be found at home. You can find the magic in epic movies, in eyes of a loved one and in every sunset.
After all, the longest, more difficult and epic journey of life is only 18 inches. It’s the journey from your head to your heart.
When you live with an open heart, you can weather any storms, meet incredible people and create a life and career beyond your wildest dreams.
I’d love to hear from you!
What magical moments have you experienced in your life recently, while traveling or at home?
Leave a comment below and let me know if you enjoyed this article!
P.S. If you’d like more, I’m hosting a free training on networking with my dear friend, Katie Dalebout of TheWellnessWonderland.com to show you How To Find Mentor! Save your free spot for the July 14th training here: www.anitawinglee.com/katie-anita-masterclass
