The Souvenirs That Are Invaluable!

Life’s small moments, whether they are well-planned or unexpected, possess a magical quality that makes them the ones we remember fondly. I remember many road trips where the road was always wide open, the music played loudly from the speakers, and the car was filled with pure joy and laughter from conversations with friends. It’s liberating to see the landscape change with each mile, from cornfields to little towns, and then the massive open sky that serves as a reminder of the size of the planet. The joy of being in motion, stopping at unusual gas stations, sampling regional restaurants where the waitresses address you as “honey,” and discovering undiscovered treasures not included on any map were more important than the location itself on those road excursions. Then there was my unforgettable trip to New York, a city with a palpable energy that permeates your entire body. With its flashing lights and never-ending vigor, walking through Times Square at midnight felt like daylight. However, despite the mayhem, there were also peaceful times, such as strolling the High Line or drinking coffee at a small Brooklyn café, where the pace of the city is just slow enough for you to take a breath. New York reminded me that even the most intimidating locations can teach you how to discover inner peace.

My excursions to Iowa demonstrate that traveling also has a way of bringing you back to what is most important. It’s all about family, home-cooked meals, and discussions that continue into the evening around the dining table, not about towering skyscrapers or bright neon lights. It’s about kids running through the yard, hugs that last longer than expected, and that feeling of comfort that you can’t put in a suitcase but always bring back with you. My trips to Iowa serve as a reminder that not all travel is about distance; sometimes it’s about coming back to the individuals who make you feel complete. There are also those times when, despite your best efforts, things don’t turn out the way you intended, and the trip ends up being the most memorable part of the tale. Similar to when my flight was canceled, I chose to get the most out of the situation rather than vent my frustration at the airport. By accident, not on purpose, I landed in France, and my unplanned staycation turned out to be a pleasant break from what might have been a depressing setback. I strolled along cobblestone streets, purchased pastries with names I couldn’t pronounce, and engaged in conversation with residents who welcomed me into their community. I wouldn’t exchange that detour for anything since it turned what was supposed to be a stressful hiccup into an opportunity to live entirely in the present moment.

These trips—whether they occurred on a busy street, in an Iowa family dining room, or out of nowhere in France—taught me something crucial in retrospect: travel is all about presence, not perfection. It’s about accepting the unknown, embracing the unexpected, and knowing that the most valuable stories frequently come from spontaneous occurrences. If you’re afraid of traveling, I would tell you this: it doesn’t have to be spectacular or flawless. It’s about the joy of being in the car on a road trip, the excitement of exploring a new city street, the affection you have for your family, and the exhilaration of making the best of a bad situation. Unexpected cancellations, chaos, or deviations can occasionally lead to the most excellent recollections. And at the conclusion, they turn into the little escapes that live with you forever.