Are You a Wannabe Traveler?

Do you love the idea of travel?

Does the thought of taking a weekend or a week to focus on your writing seem like a dream?

When Jenna and I were planning the London writers’ retreat, so many people commented, “I’d love to do that, but I can’t because….

“I can’t afford it.”

“I have to be home for family members.”

“I don’t have a passport.”

“I can’t be away that long.”

And on and on.

Here’s the truth: If you have a job and/or a family, it’s never easy to get away—even if getting away means secluding yourself at the local coffee shop for a few hours.

I recently received a newsletter from my friend and fitness coach, Ashley Mahaffey. Her words struck a chord with me, and if you’re a closet adventurer or wannabe traveler they may resonate with you, too. Here’s what she wrote:

Have you ever considered scheduling your adventures?

There is an exercise that I do regularly each month where I list the 3 ways I’ll put adventure into my month.  It doesn’t have to be a plane trip away.  It could be as easy as taking a 10-minute walk under the stars after dinner.  I guarantee that there will be a shift when you return.

I challenge you to pick 3 adventures you’ll put on the schedule this month.  Write them down.

A trip—whether it’s across town, across the state or across the ocean—doesn’t happen without planning. And if it’s a big trip, like a European excursion or a Caribbean cruise, you may have to save up to cover the expenses, fill out and turn in the paperwork for your passport or passport renewal , and secure your hotel, car, air travel and childcare arrangements several months in advance.

Some of those things can be handled now. Why not take Ashley’s advice and schedule your adventures… or at least plan for them.

• If you don’t have a passport, get one!
• If you don’t have extra cash lying around, start a serious travel fund.  (Serious means saving upwards of $85-100 a week so you can take a trip in the next few months… not in the next few years.)

In the meantime, create your own mini writing retreats. Regularly block out a few hours a week for uninterrupted writing. Rather than thinking, I’ll write sometime this week, put it on your calendar. Let your spouse and kids know you will be writing for three hours on Saturday morning or Thursday evening… or whenever you can find an open chunk of time in your schedule.

Ashley said “there will be a shift when you return.” She, of course, is speaking from a health perspective. An adventure refreshes and re-energizes you physically and mentally. But getting away from your daily routine—whether it’s for a few hours, a few days… or even for a few weeks—also allows you to look at the world and your writing in a different light.

Start scheduling your adventures!  The idea of travel is great, but actually taking a trip is absolutely fabulous. Don’t just dream about it… do it.

To whet your appetite for adventure I’ve included a few pictures from our “European excursion” this summer. The retreat was in London, but Jenna and I flew in early and visited Paris. After the retreat I went to Vilseck, Germany and Verona, Italy, and Jenna went back to Paris. Kristen Eckstein, a friend a speaker for the retreat, stayed in London for a few days then trekked to Scotland.

(Travel tip: Getting there is half the battle! If you’re attending a meeting or retreat, plan to stay a few extra days or weeks and see the sights!)

Jenna in front of the Lourve Museum in Paris	Erin, Jenna and Kristen in London
Erin visiting the Bamberg Palace in Germany	The view from my room in Verona, Italy

We’re already planning ahead for another writing adventure. Where in the world would you like to go? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Love to write? Love to travel? Do both on our next My Writers’ Connection Workshop & Retreat! Register today!