The Sling Diaries Vol. 5: All The Love - "Travel"

A husband and wife, while peering at one another from behind the rims of mismatched mugs of hot coffee, unearth answers within their hearts to some age-old questions. Answers they've always known, but perhaps have never audibly noted. They ask each other: What would you do if money wasn't an issue? What would you do if you were infinitely wealthy? What would you do with that wealth?

Naturally, one would think "Oh, that's easy. I would pay off debt, or buy a huge, beautiful villa, or go on a spending spree. Maybe a new wardrobe. Maybe I'd donate to charity, maybe I'd pay for my children's college tuition. Maybe I'd pay for my children's children's children's college tuition, even. Heck, why not?"

But from both of their lips came the word "Travel".

And there it was, the ache of our hearts hushed beneath the surface; two quiet syllables. To experience, to live wildly and adventurously. -exhale- And they turn their heads and sip on their coffee quietly, staring straight ahead, both of them undoubtedly escaping to a realm of "if only"s.

Andrew comes from a fairly lengthy line of family members who have worked for airlines or travel agencies and have travelled anywhere and everywhere. But even though his family has travelled often, I don't believe they ever really experienced. At least, not in the way that I would define experiencing. Stops at familiar fast food restaurants in order to steer clear of the unexplored, the unexperienced. Strip malls, tourist hot-spots. It's not to say they didn't "take trips": packing up their things, itinerary and all, and struggling through lines of frequent fliers all while pacifying young children on plane after plane, but...Andrew and I have vowed to travel in an entirely different way even if the destination is not considered exciting nor note-worthy, and if our money was infinite and even when it isn't, we'd like nothing more than to pack up our sweet babies and just go--a bag of basics in tow, no cares, no commitments, no list of sight-seeing stops that we simply have to venture to. We'd wander and fumble about, attempting to experience each destination without strong expectations of what it should be like. And this, my sweet babies, is what I desire for you. I hope for a burning desire to experience new things in very real ways to combust in your hearts, I wish for you to explore authentically, to wish for opportunities to grow from profound experiences, even if some of them seem small at the time. To explore.

As the heels of my boots clacked against the cobblestone streets of Assisi, I remember trying to feel deeply. I remember closing my eyes, but only for a moment, attempting to soak in the history, the majesty, the incredible smells, the sights...inhaling and trying to match scents with pictures, a perfect little bundle of this foreign, beautiful place that I could retreat to in the recesses of my mind again and again once I've left. I remember thinking "This is it. This trip across Europe is my one and only chance to experience something great and far beyond my Midwest roots. I'd better soak this up now because from here on out it's corn fields and farm houses back home." I distinctly remember feeling trapped, tied down by my roots. But the truth is, my 17-year-old self didn't realize what my 24-year-old self does now: traveling isn't necessarily an act, but a state-of-mind.

You can find yourself somewhere filled with wonder, with history, with culture beyond measure, with sights your eyes have never gazed upon, tastes your tongue have never experienced, but if you're not there, I mean, really present, then it's just purely physical. It could be a city two states away or you could be standing in the center of Trafalgar Square, but until you decide to experience authentically and move about like wind, you are just going through the motions, checking off squares on your bucket list of places to see. Travel isn't just about seeing, but also about feeling. So, lose yourself in your travels, young ones. Find yourself in a tiny, warm piano bar on a hidden street in London. Find yourself boarding the tram and landing smack dab in the middle of unplanned territory. Climb mountains, drive far. Toss aside your notion of what food should taste like, what sight-seeing should look like, what traveling should feel like and just...go.

If it's Rome or if it's a small Midwest town...I tell you to stray. Stray from what is comfortable. Get lost, walk until your feet hurt. Hunker down at a small, warm pub filled with locals tucking in to the local fare. Maybe you'll meet new people with magical stories, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll go at it alone, quietly soaking everything in. Or maybe you won't. But however you do it, do it with heart, with authenticity, with excitement, with adventure.

Because your adventure doesn't begin and end with one two week European escapade when you are 17...or with riding in the backseat of your family's mini-van to airports and mini-malls or the other places you find yourselves wandering to. Your whole life will offer up experiences, great and small, and unless you take hold of them, you will just be...present. Live with adventure in your hearts and your heart's ache for travel can be satisfied with even a trip to an unexplored corner of your home state. I promise.

I'm wearing Dexter in a Sakura Bloom Shabd Shibori linen sling in "Lines". 

(a parting gift from the lovely gals of Sakura Bloom for being a part of this beautiful, wonderful project. Thank you.)

I'd like to also just extend a huge, ginormous "Thank you" to those of you who have read even a sliver of what I've had to say over the course of the last six months. This has been a beautiful experience and the fact that even a handful of people have read my words and related to them in one way or another is unbelievable...and also very humbling. I love this community of mothers and the love that I've felt since the start of this journey. I love you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my ramblings.

All my love,
Amanda