Traveling is great, and I’m blessed to do a good deal of it, but I always look forward to coming home. Dorothy said it best when she clicked her red ruby slippers together and repeated, “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.” She was right. The young girl from Kansas was in awe of her adventures in Oz. She and her little dog Toto made friends and encountered all walks of life along the yellow brick road. As much as Dorothy enjoyed the journey, her home was where she was determined to return. I can relate. After traveling, I’m always grateful for what I’ve been fortunate to see and do, but also thankful to go home.
Experiencing the world, both near and far, exotic or not, offers new and valuable perspectives. Witnessing the differences in people and lifestyles is fascinating. Travel expands our knowledge in ways that books and pictures cannot. Being immersed in cultural differences beyond cuisine, clothing, and traditions is the essence of traveling. Some of what is experienced will be taken home and duplicated. Souvenirs and memories are not the only things that get brought home. Appreciation is a stowaway of exploration. Appreciation for where you’ve been and where you’re returning is a huge part of travel. Perspective provides us with the lens to be grateful. Witnessing the world from different vantage points clarifies what we are thankful for.
The world is an amazing place with interesting people, but being inundated with different can be exhausting as it is exhilarating. Nothing beats returning home, no matter how much I love where I’ve been. Having memories to replay as I lay down in my own bed is a sweet ending to any trip. Dorothy said it best; there really is “no place like home.”
