Do you find travelling a source of therapy and education?

[ScarlettR]

This may be a no-brainer, but I find travelling so relaxing and battery charging.

It doesn't necessarily have to be overseas trips or interstate trips, but merely road trips to the coast. I live in Melbourne, and sometimes take road trips to Lorne and the Great Ocean Road. I live in the city, so I live amongst constant traffic noise and pollution while living in a high-rise apartment.

So driving out to the coast makes me feel valuable as a person. I feel like a worthy human and soul with a purpose. Socialising with the native animals like cockatoos and having picnics at the beaches give me hope. It's like I feel little pieces of happiness connect inside my brain and I feel a new person. I hope this make sense?

[Croix]

Dear ScarlettR~

It certainly does make sense. I've read some of your other posts and know you have quite a load to cope with. I also saw you already do set out to distract yourself at times, going to the ACMI (something I enjoy too, I have a technical as well as general interest in it) and many other places.

I'd imagine you might get two different sorts of distraction by travel. I do much the same thing when I can, though my journey are pretty modest, just into town or visiting with my wife. This gives me not only other things to think about abut also a change of venue, something I've found to be pretty effective. I'm the opposite to you, living in the country, and going to the town for a contrast. Just the driving can be good.

As for animals and birds. I try to see something every day by taking a brief walk. I'm pretty lucky as my street is quite short with fields at the end, and one can normally rely upon seeing something, a possum, rabbit, cockatoo (in season) or other wildlife. Yes that all does connect a little piece of happiness and and also relief from unwelcome constant thoughts. It all points out to me the world is much larger than my little stuffy corner.

Thank you for reminding me of the relief and perspective one can gain with simple things, it's pretty good to realize you get this benefit at times too.

Croix

[geoff]

hi ScarlettR, just replied to your other post re your medication, but yes going for a drive can be very relaxing, years ago I loved it with the family, but these days it doesn't happen anymore as I'm single, but I do visit a chap every Sunday morning who lives just below where we used to live 12 years ago, but quite often the kangaroos bounce along in the bush which is great.
The little blue wrens are always constantly flying around, plus any amount of other birds which always came to our property when we lived there, the house I rebuilt and always thought we would live there forever, but how times change. Geoff.

[Guest_322]

Hi ScarlettR,

Yes! I love travelling. Admittedly, I prefer international travel (alas, it's not exactly always affordable being a uni student). I'm hoping to do more overseas travel when I graduate.

There's something very exhilarating about being in another country where everything is so different- the language, social norms, architecture, food, etc. I always try to learn the local language, and try to communicate in said language with the locals (I try very hard not to speak English when I'm in a country where English is not the national language).

Dottie x