ROAM by Ann Owens
Leave your everyday behind, put on your dancing shoes and get out there and roam this place we call Earth. Whether it be just down the road or to the other side of the world, immersing yourself into another place or culture can really change your perspective on life and self.
We can talk about packing tips and ways to make the trip easier, but really the number one thing to remember to pack is an open mind and an adventurous spirit. Many times, the glitches on the adventure become the favorite stories to tell later! So get a little lost, relax when things don’t go as planned, look around and see what else might be interesting to explore, and let mind and body roam through your current surroundings.
One of my favorite examples of this started with missing a plane connection, therefore missing the cruise ship from Athens, Greece, and having to catch up to it. This involved flying to Egypt, then four people and a driver and all of their luggage being crammed into a Peugeot and driving across the Sahara desert. Along the way, being offered fresh (depending on your point of view) fish to buy from a leper, sitting for a long period of time in a large warehouse hoping the man with the passports returned, while everyone around started praying to Mecca--all with no air conditioning. While at the time it was a bit nerve racking, it is now one of this person’s favorite stories to tell. Imagine the things they saw and experienced that weren’t on the itinerary but were fun and entertaining and worth a good laugh.
So remember to soak it all in as you roam through life and laugh out loud as much as possible! Life is short – enjoy!!
St. Simons Island native Ann Owens inherited her love of travel from her mother and loves to go anywhere and everywhere, but has a passion for Africa. She puts her experience and knowledge to good use as a partner at Travel Service planning trips for people as they travel both near and far, and leading small group trips all over the world several times a year. Ann loves her career as she gets to make people’s dreams come true every day.
