About two and a half weeks ago, I made a very spontaneous decision. After weeks of feeling anxious due to the unstable situation in the Middle East (and disappointed my trip to Thailand had been cancelled), I woke up one morning with a clear need to get away. It was impulsive, a little chaotic, and definitely not thought through, but I needed a mental break. I needed to step away from the alerts, the sounds of interceptions in the sky, and the constant ‘war’ chatter. So, I went for it and I booked a flight to France that same day (who knew I’d be back in France so quickly - but it felt right!).
What I didn’t expect was everything that would come with that decision.
Yes, I found moments of peace; time to slow down, to breathe, to step away from the noise I had been surrounded by. But the trip became so much more than that. It brought a sense of calm and joy in a way I hadn’t anticipated.
Getting to see my brother play hockey in his league finals, both on TV and at the arena, was something I can’t quite put into words. It brought me straight back to my roots. The energy, the excitement… that feeling’s never really left me. Being there, in that moment, I felt a kind of joy that was pure, familiar, and deeply grounding. I was tired, running on little sleep from late nights watching games and early mornings working online, but somehow, my usual routine didn’t matter. It was all worth it.
In between, there were all the other things I’ve come to love about being in different places. The simplicity of it. Working from cafés, trying new foods, moving my body, walking and running through unfamiliar streets, and most of all, connecting with people from different backgrounds. Sometimes it’s in those small conversations that I realize how much my travels have shaped me, how I’m able to relate, understand, and connect a little more easily.
Travel has shown me not just how beautiful and diverse the world is, but how different life can be depending on where you start. Something as simple as a passport can dictate your ability to move, to leave, to explore. It’s a quiet kind of privilege, one I’ve benefited from in ways I didn’t always recognize.
Even recently, living through a period of instability, I felt how heavy constant uncertainty can be. And yet, I also had the ability to step away. To leave, even if just for a while. That choice alone is not something everyone has. I don’t take that lightly, because I know that while I can move, pause, and reset, many people can’t. They are living realities they never chose and may never be able to change. I know I’m only seeing a small part of that, but it’s enough to stay with me.
This trip, as spontaneous as it was, held so much: joy, nostalgia, exhaustion, connection, and perspective.
It reminded me of where I come from. It reminded me of what truly matters. And it reminded me of how much I’ve been given the chance to experience, not just places, but moments that shape me in ways I don’t always expect.
More than anything, it left me with a deep sense of gratitude.
Grateful for the ability to move freely.
Grateful for the experiences that shape me.
Grateful for the people I love.
Grateful for the moments that bring me back to myself.
Some of the best moments in life aren’t planned, they happen in the space where you decide to take a chance; and oh, how priceless that is.
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