Has anyone criticized your travel?

This happened to me. Once. From the guy I lived with who supposedly loved me. Yeah…it hurt. And 6 years later after our breakup (and 7 after said incident), it still pisses me off!

In 2005 I had met a lovely Irish woman in Granada, Spain. We spent the day together, discovering we had a lot in common. After a wonderful meal and loads of Spanish wine, we parted ways, but not before we exchanged emails. We emailed over the years and both opened our doors to each other. “Come to Colorado,” I said. “If you ever come to Ireland, you have a place to stay,” she exclaimed. So, 2 years later I boarded a plane to Dublin. She offered me her car to use (she is one of the most generous people I know). I took her up on it and drove around the countryside of Ireland, trying to see as much as possible in 2 weeks. I spent a lot of time in the car, but I also saw a lot, met some friendly Irish people, did a bit of hiking and walking, and, most importantly, had an incredible time. It also cemented my friendship with my Irish friend. So, when the person who you love says, “It sounds like a lot of time in the car,” in a condescending tone, well, let’s just say that’s not the reaction you’re looking for when you come back all excited about the trip you just experienced.

 

 

When I look back at this I realize that travel means different things to different people. For some, travel means going to the beach and planting your butt firmly in the sand (or the sun lounger). For others, it means dining in great restaurants and enjoying the city’s nightlife. Still others are content to be anywhere as long as they are with family. I realized that for him, travel meant epic adventures and a lot of physical activity. It was his MO. But, for me it simply meant, or should I say it means, being somewhere new and exploring – by car, foot, bus, train, boat. I just needed to be somewhere new with camera in hand. What this taught me, and how I now approach my new career as a personal travel planner, is that you should never criticize someone’s travel. While it may not be your idea of how you want to spend your time away from home and work, it means the world to someone else.

 

 

So, next time someone tells you about their recent trip or upcoming travel plans, think twice before opening your mouth. True, that Caribbean cruise may not be your cup of tea, but for someone else, it could be the trip of a lifetime.