A New Travel Perspective

Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” – Anonymous

This big, beautiful world has so my places to visit, it will take a life time. If you want to explore and grow, this simple quote says it all. I crave new experiences, learning about people and cultures and I do that by going somewhere new at least once a year; if I’m lucky, I get to see a few more!

2019 was a year of change and growth. I was able to step away from a career of 14 years and take a sabbatical. During this time I traveled to Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and a few places in the US. Traveling gives you a new perspective on life. Ron, my husband and I traveled with one of our favorite couple friends in Europe last spring. We were literally in planes, trains, and automobiles 24/7 to visit as many cities in 7 days.  

One of my not so favorite memories is lugging around this enormous suitcase- of course I overpack because I felt I needed to be prepared for any occasion!  As I watch my friends effortlessly pull their carry on suitcase around all of these European cities- Zürich, Geneva, Lauterbrunnen, Cinque Terre, and Milan, I think to myself, why did I not pack smarter to jet set and move through these cities with various modes of transportation with ease?  

Here are a few packing tips I learned for a fast paced, jam packed travel itinerary:

• Use Compression bags for travel to save space in your luggage.

• Don’t pack shoes for multiple occasions: only take 2 pair of shoes (daytime/nighttime).

• Recycle your jeans and pair with a different blouse for a new look. 

• Use a packing list and stick to it :)

• Leave the bulky clothes at home or wear them on the plane. 

Needless to say I did not wear 50% of the clothes I packed. It’s safe to say, in the future I need to use a packing list and stick to it. I’m a big believer in laughing at yourself, so when it was all said and done I had to laugh at myself.

Some of the best moments were trying some delicious food and sweet treats. I love cheese so when I have some good cheese, I go all in. And let’s just say, I’ve never meet any cheese I don’t like. The best fondue I ever had was on this trip in Geneva.

Not only was the fondue amazing, the service at Restaurant Les Armures was exceptional. We walked by this seemingly popular restaurant and looked at the menu, it was definitely a winner for dinner. We were very excited we were able to accommodate us and seat us, although we did not have reservations. We shared a delicious meal and forgot about our suitcase woes.

Les Armures

I have adopted the growth mindset philosophy, you either win or you learn. Learning to pack light has been so liberating in my season of growth and change. When you travel, you grow in more ways than one.  Now we can walk into our future with assurance knowing travel is about the experiences you will gain, not the clothes you think you will need that you probably won’t wear.

Let me know your travel tips in the comment section!

Writer: Chericka Johnson, Travel Advisor