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How mindfulness improves your observational skills

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Find your Deep Connection to Nature It's easy to view an entire country 6 miles high from the airplane window, but you miss so many details. If you're traveling by train or bus or automobile, you see many more details, yet you still miss many things.   You first have to stop moving, and get out of whatever vehicle you're in. Then you're actually able to appreciate the place. How mindfulness improves your observational skills Mindfulness invites us to stop, to pause, and to let go of our normal thinking patterns. How does that help us appreciate nature? Mindfulness asks us to physically stop and remain still. That makes us begin to pay better attention to the present moment. We pay attention to the present moment instead of riding our thoughts, fantasies and narratives, like some amusement ride.  See my website for more about mindfulness . When we intentionally stop during our travels, we can observe and appreciate more details. Our Thoughts When we inten...
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About Mindfulness & Travel

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I use the word mindful in two ways. On one level I mean mindfulness or meditation practice. Mindfulness helps you appreciate your experience with all your senses. But I'm also using “mindful” as being thoughtful and strategic about travel. It helps to structure your travel to get the most satisfaction. Many people don't associate Mindfulness with travel. They're not sure that mindfulness applies to travel. Some may see travel, with all it's activity and distractions, as a disturbance and distraction from mindfulness. You may be surprised that mindfulness and travel actually can go together. Experience Life’s Richness! Being a traveler and a meditator has caused me to realize a few things. Mindfulness helps me: Observe better with all my senses Fully meet other people Experience my travel experience more deeply Mindfulness asked us to stop, to pause, and to let go of our normal thinking patterns. How does that help us appreciate travel?  As I have blogged pr...
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Travel Fast or Slow?

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Go Fast, See Much; or Go Slow, See Deeply? The title brings up another basic difference of travel philosophy.  I'm sure it also causes some disagreement and complaints between travelers.  What does this have to do with Mindfulness?  You can travel at break-neck speed, but there's a lot you'll miss. If your travel is as frenetic as your normal life, it won't be very relaxing. 1. See as Much as Possible One "Travel Camp" says: "I'm never going to come this way again, so I could see as much as I possibly can." That does have some validity. There are must-see sights that are absolutely non-negotiable -- you'd regret missing them. Depending on your own personal or work situation, you may not have lots of free time to travel. In addition, your health or age may not allow numerous opportunities for travel. (Now in the time of Covid-19, people may consider the possibility that they might not be able to re-visit countries if the miss certain...
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Deeply Appreciate your Travel Experiences

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How do you d eeply Appreciate your travel? Short answer: E xperience it with Mindful Clarity . Travel exposes you to new scenery and ideas. T une in with the help of mindfulness! Fully use your senses Appreciate things directly Be aware of your preconceived notions and biases Be open to the unexpected Distractions How do mental distractions dilute your experience? If you're worrying about missing a connection, or stewing about a closed attraction, you're probably missing something interesting. You're certainly not having a fun experience! What do you do when you realize you're stressing? It might be good to stop, sit and breathe, be mindful, and calm down. (Even if the situation is disrupting your visit or spoiling your plans, most of us don't problem-solve very well when stressed.) Many times my wife will become tired while trudging around a foreign city.  I usually have lots of places I'd like to see.  It would be easy for me to be ...
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Mindfulness Enhances Travel Benefits

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Does Mindfulness enhance the inherent benefits of travel? Short answer: Yes!  II have meditated during nearly all of my travels around the U.S.A. and the world.  I have enjoyed many peak experiences.  But I've also encountered and transcended many travel glitches that would have spoiled the trip for many. Enjoy the Richness of Travel with Mindfulness Mindfulness allows you to tune in and fully appreciate all your experiences. Travel lets you enjoy and appreciate new things, such as: The joy and delight of surprises Being open to the unexpected Letting go of your preconceived notions and your biases Tuning in with different senses, and appreciating things differently Exposing you to new ideas that enhance your creativity. Bring the peace & serenity home!   ( Right : Cinnamon-Sweet  Trdelnik  baking over coals in  Prague's Old Town Square. They smell heavenly!) The Miracle of This Moment I n mindfulness training, I ...
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Special Edition: Travel and Corona Virus

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Economic Disaster? Read to the End ... Disclaimer: This blog does not providing medical advice. Always consult your medical provider for medical advice relative to travel. Is the Coronavirus real? Yes, and you should take precautions and follow State Department Travel Advisories . It's not "fake news." You can argue whether the response to the disease is justified, or a severe over-reaction. You can argue whether the press coverage is inflammatory or not. I'm not going to waste time arguing, since it won't change governments' reactions or press coverage. CDC A dvisory for Covid-19 (currently) : hand-washing; not touching your face; and that higher-risk elderly, immuno-compromised, and those with underlying conditions take extra precautions. Recent History of Outbreaks We know Covid-19 IS highly transmissible . It is a coronavirus (which tends to be seasonal, but we don't have sufficient history to know that for sure). Cases are ...
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River Cruise Travel Experiences

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Travel Experience from River Cruises You enjoy travel through your senses. But your senses can also include fatigue and frustration! Travel can be exhausting. But the mode of travel can have very important implications to the amount of effort and enjoyment of your trip. I've known people who have flown to Europe taken bus tours. They complained that every day or two they had to pack up their suitcase again and leave the hotel for their next destination.  Although I've never taken those types of trips, I have done fully independent travel (FIT) by train and by car. The independent traveler, besides the overseas flight and hotels, must also negotiate train station signs, language, different currencies, transportation schedules, and figuring out how and where to eat. It was "interesting" to learn a little basic Italian and German, and attempt to learn Chinese (I never did very well). I could understand a few words here and there, either written or...
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