The bags are packed. It's time.

ED NOTE: I've been following Chris for over 3 years now. He hits a home run almost every time for me. He has inspired and gave me vision and courage to.......well just read the post. 

Once the bags are packed, a lot of decisions have already been made. The night before, you had to think through what to pack and what to leave behind. The morning of departure, you check again and again for the essentials: passport, wallet, journal, tickets, bus fare.

Your itinerary, chosen from among countless options, is at least partially settled by now. You're going to _____, and as far as you're concerned, all of _____ is waiting for you.

The road ahead may not be easy, but you have already overcome one big challenge as you carry those bags out the door.

Next stop, the airport. You take the bus or the train or the cab or the ride from your friend. One way or another, you will soon be deposited in front of the revolving doors that lead to air world.

But first, you look around at the home you're leaving behind one last time. When you return from the trip, what will have changed here? What will have changed with you?


Most trips begin with a to-go-or-not-to-go dilemma. If you're looking for a reason to stay home, you'll find plenty: money is tight, work is busy, people need you. But you evaluated these concerns and decided to forge onwards. Bravo, traveler!

As you venture to new lands, change is inevitable. When you return to your point of departure, objects might be in the same places, but they will contain different meanings. Surprise! That's just how it works. To avoid this reality, don't walk out the door.

Soon you'll be entering into traveler's limbo, with the strange blend of foreign and familiar. Be careful: this sensation is a powerful intoxicant, with no known cure. In traveler's limbo, you are the same person you were at home (or are you?) but the setting is different (or is it?). You have no choice but to follow the journey and see where it leads.

Fret as you will over the did-I-leave-something-behind and the what-will-happen-when-I-get-there jitters, you can rest assured that the biggest decision has already been made: the decision to go.

The bags are packed. It's time.