Ignite the Promise

Travel is an Investment in Emotional Health

We recently attended a Travel & Adventure Show and came away energized and smarter about why we like to travel, or visit different places.  Yes, it's about the different places (sights, sounds, smells, languages, and customs), but, importantly, it is about fueling our emotional health!  Never thought about it that way, but recognize it is true.

This is what Samantha Brown spoke about in her presentation (See Samantha Brown's "Passport" series on the Travel Channel).

It's an investment in our well-being.  We gain perspective about our lives.  Travel can help us relax and be 'in the moment.'  In Europe, the architecture and museums tend to be the defining destinations.  In Latin America, it's not the architecture and museums, but the life and culture.  Visiting peoples and places help us gain perspective about our own living and appreciation for the diversity of the world.  It is energizing.  Travel raises expectations.  We observe and we compare and we marvel.  We live!

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

It's freezing and I'm in my shorts!

On March 26, 2011, at 7 am, it was 30F degrees in Washington, DC.  It was the start of the Sixth National Marathon signaling the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC.  Thousands of runners were part of this race with its very chilly start.  I was able to view the runners from my front porch and went out to take a few pictures.  I saw one runner with a prosthetic leg flash by.  It was one of those 'spring like' prosthetics.  Others wore leggings and some just shorts.  Me?  I had long pants and jacket on.  The race was won by Michael Wardian in a time of 2:23:01.  This was Wardian's fifth win out of six tries!  The first woman finisher, Nadezda Tuptova, came from Russia and posted a personal-best time of 2:50:53.

It occurred to me that I might have just not shown up to the race when it dropped to freezing.  Obviously, there are a lot of people who are not weather wienies.  They signed up and they are going to run!  It got me thinking about the determination some have to succeed.  Do these runners who are out in the freezing weather have something special about them?  Are they ones who will overcome life's obstacles in contrast to others who quit (or hesistate) at the first obstacle?

 © Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com