Memories were made

Losing My Why, Finding It in Travel

I often find myself stuck in the rut of daily life. While I appreciate routines, they can sometimes dull my perspective. I lose the why.

When I’m feeling this way, it’s easy to chase quick emotional fixes. For me, that often looks like a spontaneous trip to Target. But recently, something shifted.

I went to Target, expecting the usual spark of joy. Instead, I got the ick. I came home with bags of stuff I didn’t need, dumping them on the kitchen counter. My husband glanced at the pile and asked, “What’d you get?”

“Too much,” I admitted, already feeling the pangs of shopping regret. The joy I was chasing wasn’t there—it felt hollow. In that moment, I wanted to return everything. I mean, who walks up to the counter and says, “I’d like to return everythingI just bought”? It’s absurd, but the thought lingered.

That experience left me questioning: What truly makes me happy? What makes me feel alive?

The answer came easily—travel.

I’ve always felt most alive when I’m exploring somewhere new. On my most recent trip, two things became abundantly clear: there are so many people out there to meet, and there are so many experiences I’ve yet to live.

Travel shifts my perspective. It makes me appreciate what I have while igniting a desire to see and do more. It’s not about filling a void but expanding my world, one experience at a time.

And even more life-giving is watching my children experience this alongside me. It’s magical to see their worlds expand as they discover new cultures, try unfamiliar foods, and gain perspectives entirely their own.

So, here’s my small but intentional goal: buy less and travel more. Invest in the experiences that truly make me feel alive.

Because I know I’ll never regret exploring a new country, but I’ll always regret the quick fixes that chip away at my travel budget and offer nothing lasting in return.

This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series "Alive."

Photo by Frames For Your Heart on Unsplash