How to Travel with Purpose and Meaning

Connie and I are fortunate to be approaching a time in our lives where we can reduce our responsibilities and free up more time for travel. It reminds me of a moment years ago when a few earnest young folks came to visit us. They were on a kind of mission, and after spending some time together, they got ready to leave. One of them smiled and said, "Well, I think we're going to head over to Mebane and see what God is doing over there."

Now, I might not have phrased it quite the same way, but there was something precious about their understated sense that the world is tied together by a shared humanity—that there’s always something beautiful unfolding wherever we go, if we have the heart to look for it.

There is nothing like travel to widen your horizons, both literally and figuratively. When we venture out into the world, we invite new experiences, fresh perspectives, and unexpected beauty into our lives. Just as gratitude, purpose, and meaning are known to bring more happiness to our everyday existence, it makes sense to take these pearls of wisdom with us on vacation too.

Mindfulness teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), once said, "Wherever you go, there you are." It's a simple but profound reminder that no matter how far we travel, we always bring ourselves—our habits, our mindset, our ways of being—along with us. In travel, just as in life, the real journey is an inward one. Being present, curious, and open-hearted can transform any trip from just "getting away" into truly arriving wherever we are.

This doesn't mean our travels need to become serious or overly focused. Far from it! Travel is meant to be joyful, light-hearted, and restorative. But what if we thought of kindness, empathy, respect, and curiosity as "happiness boosters" that we could consciously pack along with our swimsuits and hiking boots?

Traveling with purpose invites us to go even deeper. It’s about being genuinely interested in how others live—their culture, their traditions, their everyday lives. It's about being a learner, not just an observer; a contributor, not just a tourist. When we approach travel with humility and a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood, we naturally make the world a better place simply by our presence.

Simple moments—sharing a meal, listening to a story, participating in a local tradition—become opportunities for connection and upliftment. We can be generous with our spirit, generous with our listening, generous with our smiles. In doing so, we weave ourselves into the broader fabric of humanity.

And let’s not forget to expand our "window of tolerance" for the inevitable bumps along the way: the delayed flights, the wrong turns, the unexpected weather. These moments, too, are part of the journey. If we greet them with humor and grace, they become the stories we laugh about later.

Traveling with purpose and meaning isn't about doing grand things. It's about carrying an open heart wherever we go. It's about remembering that every small kindness, every curious question, every act of respect creates ripples of goodness in the world.

May your travels be safe.

May your travels be joyful.

May you be happy, always.

Inspired by the teachings of Jon Kabat-Zinn and the spirit of mindful travel.