“Traveling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”― Ibn Battuta
Our flight was horrendous. Not because of turbulence or difficult passengers. It was horrendous because my youngest child suffers from severe motion sickness. Over the 18 hours we were in the air, he threw up no less than 12 times.
Tears streaming down his cheeks, an air sick bag at his chin, my son turned to me and said, “ t feels like a rhino stepping on a beetle.” To clarify, he was the beetle, the motion sickness was the rhino. All I could do was say, “I’m so sorry,” hold him, and catch his vomit in one waterproof disposable bag after another.
Nearly 24 hours of travel later, we stepped off the last plane, and like magic, it was done. The rhino had left.
The gratitude we felt lasted for hours, days really. From the back of the car, he had said, “I’m so glad I feel better because…” then he’d add something like, “now I can enjoy the car ride,” or “now I can eat my favorite foods again.”
Blessings are often waiting for us in unexpected places.
Before we’d left the airport, we went to collect our dog from cargo. The lead up had been emotionally traumatizing and we were nervous about how she would fare.
But as we approached her kennel, she greeted us with wide eyes and a waggedy tail. Our delight in seeing her on solid ground was overpowering.
For hours, days really, we were overcome by moments of awe. “She’s here with us. I can’t believe she’s here with us. Look at her with that pine cone! I’m so glad we brought her.”
So often, it’s the little things in life that end up being the most precious.
We arrived at our rental house and my son, the one who hadn’t held anything down on the plane rides over, announced to his family: “I’m thirsty.” He paused for a split second and I could hear the cogs in his jet lagged brain churning. A delighted smirk appeared on his face. “I can drink from the tap!” He dashed inside and grabbed a cup. Then he proceeded to fill and refill it from the tap. He took gulp after gulp and smiled. “Ah.”
The truth is, we all face obstacles throughout our lives, but when we place our attention on simple pleasures, subtle gratitudes, and what we hold most important, our blessings will compound and multiply. It’s simply a matter of noticing the little things.
From time to time, I’ll be sharing stories from my travels. They will be a collection of “postcards” from the road. Unlike my other work, these posts will not be essays. Rather, they will be un-edited on-the-go reflections made while staring out car windows, waiting in airport terminals, or enjoying a meal of new and exciting flavors. I hope you enjoy this slight detour in our journey together!
