Cultivating a Travel Mindset in Everyday Life

I once believed that travel meant escaping to distant places where new sights, sounds, and scents could transform me into a different version of myself. I thought only travel could make me bolder and more open-minded, shedding my biases and narrow perspectives. In those cherished moments of cultural and geographical exploration, my fellow travelers and I would join an elite circle of worldly wisdom.

As I journey further from my home in Seattle and reflect on travel within an unequal world, this narrative feels less convincing. Travel isn’t defined by the distance we cover; it’s about the depth we explore within our hearts, minds, and beliefs. I’ve encountered people with passports filled with stamps who remain quite narrow in their outlook, while others who seldom leave their hometown possess a far broader worldview.

Every time I explore a new city or country, I am met with a wave of unfamiliarity. Displaced from my comfort zone, I become a more astute observer. Wandering through Dakar, Senegal, I recognize how my South Asian identity interacts with the diverse racial and cultural landscape of West Africa. While navigating street markets in Rio de Janeiro, I ponder the implications of being a woman within local gender dynamics. I contemplate the privileges afforded to me by my U.S. passport, my financial resources, and my own global mobility.

Traveling reveals these subtleties most vividly when I find myself as an outsider. Sporting designer sneakers and carrying an upscale water bottle loudly signals my urban lifestyle and access to wealth, especially in less affluent regions. Since building connections is my main goal while traveling, I prefer to downplay my advantages and amplify my eagerness to engage. Although I can’t change the global inequities around me, I can make mindful choices about how I present myself in new environments. I opt for a simple water container and wear shoes similar to those worn by women my age. This sometimes fosters unexpected bonds, like the time I felt a sense of belonging on a humid day in Tiananmen Square, surrounded by smiling Chinese elders. Despite the language barrier, their warm expressions radiated kindness. At other times, I feel distinctly out of place and uncomfortable, such as during a walking tour in low-income areas of Mexico City, which left me troubled and reflective about the world's injustices. Both experiences prompt me to stay attuned to my emotions and my surroundings.

I strive to carry the awareness I cultivate while traveling into my everyday life at home. How can I utilize the insights gained from my travels to foster mindfulness in my daily routine?

With a fresh perspective, I savor the comforts of home and view my familiar surroundings as an inquisitive outsider. While I listen to the songs of robins and chickadees in my local park, I ponder which communities in my city lack sufficient green spaces and the reasons behind this. As I select tomatoes at the grocery store, I reflect on the diversity of my life. How homogenous is my experience, especially in a city celebrated for its diversity? In the library or café, I often pause my work to look up, making an effort to connect with those around me. Instead of the usual, "How are you?" I prefer to ask, "What’s something on your mind these days?"

Mindful travel in a world marked by inequality isn’t simply about boarding a plane; it’s about recognizing who experiences belonging, opportunity, and acceptance, and who is denied these fundamental rights—and understanding the reasons behind it. It’s crucial to acknowledge that historical contexts and circumstances of birth grant some individuals advantages that others do not enjoy.

None of us has a guide for navigating the feelings associated with our privileges or the absence thereof, nor for how our identities may manifest both abroad and at home. However, we possess the capacity to engage more purposefully with the people and environments around us. By being more attuned to one another, we can move closer to justice, and perhaps even find a bit of healing within ourselves.