Day 19, ABCs of Gratitude: Travel

Day 19*, folks! 'T'oday we 't'alk about something (or someone) we are grateful for that begins with the letter 'T'.

For today's ABCs of Gratitude, I am grateful for 'Travel'.

I'm pretty sure I have my parents to thank for giving me the travel bug early on. Not only did their adopting me result in my first international flight at the age of three months (I like to say I was a jet-setter from the start), they also figured out a way for our family to travel everywhere from Hawaii to Peru to the most magical place on earth, Disneyland--and many other places in between. I'm not sure how they made it work with three kids, but I am very grateful they did.

This is the chapter I opened up to when
I sat down near the Hagia Sophia. Fitting.

Traveling exposes us to new environments that rattle our senses. We see new things, try out mysterious foods, and hear sounds and dialects that are foreign to our brain. Traveling resurfaces our sense of wonder about the world and the people that live in it; and I love everything about that.

Instead of writing about 'Running' yesterday, I considered sharing my gratitude for 'Research'--specifically around online research and traveling. Thanks to a number of online resources, anyone with an internet connection and a search engine can find the cheapest flight to their destination, book a 5-star hotel for a 2-star price, plot the quickest route to their hotel (No tolls? No problem!), create a customized map with what they want to see, and even begin communicating with local residents to set up a time to meet up.

While there are a number of benefits and drawbacks that are up for debate, I believe we can all agree that these online tools have made international travel far more accessible for an audience that would otherwise stay in their comfort zone. Prepping for a trip online can bring a sense of security and peace of mind. But, as any traveler knows, no matter how much you research, there is no number of TripAdvisor reviews that prepare you for the challenges--and the exhilaration--you get when you actually touch down to your destination.

Do you have a favorite travel story or lesson you love to retell? Share it with me in the Comments section! Please!

Niagara Falls with my girls.

*I realize this is an error and I completely skipped over 'S'. My apologies to the letter 'S'; and apologies to any of you if you were confused. A full apology letter will be my post for 'S'... stay tuned :)