Nourishing the Soul with Travel: A Tale of Wanderlust

I have always had a passion for traveling, and I find joy in exploring both familiar and unfamiliar places. I'm not fussy about accommodations; I'm happy in a hotel, a friend's home, a tent, or my beloved Airstream Basecamp 16x.

Recently, my mother visited, and we had a lovely conversation with a Rhode Island friend of mine about my mom’s life adventures. My friend remarked on my mother's wanderlust spirit, which she must have passed on to me.

My mother shared one story: when she flew from Cleveland to Germany in a propeller plane in 1963 with her girlfriend. This flight lasted 24 hours, had no window, and no amenities or flight attendants with snacks. The entire flight was full of German passengers in the same singing group, and she was the only one who only spoke English. The idea of going to Europe was her drive for this adventurous trip.

Her entire trip throughout Europe had no itinerary. They would walk around and see what happens, creating their adventure in the moment. They'd go to the airport, look at what flights were available, and fly to a place that felt good. One day, they decided to fly to Barcelona, Spain, because it was the celebration of the changing of the popes. One day they went to the airport and chose Paris as their next destination. While in Paris, they wore red dresses with matching red floppy hats and walked around the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, standing out among all the people.

Traveling is a way to nourish my soul and fill my heart with joy. I love immersing myself in new environments, whether a simple hike, exploring a bustling city, or spending time in nature. Meeting new people and hearing their stories is always a highlight of any journey. As a traveling photographer and video producer, I'm always ready for whatever adventure comes my way.

I enjoy the process of planning a trip for photography or video production. From the initial stages of research and scheduling to the excitement of getting there and exploring the subject matter, every step of the journey is an adventure. As a storyteller and multimedia producer, I take pleasure in creating compelling photographs and videos that tell a corporate story.

My wanderlust spirit also helps me with my media assignments. If I go hiking or explore a new city, I am open to unexpected changes in my plans. When I let things unfold, the adventure becomes a significant memory as unforeseen experiences emerge. This pattern is also common in our media productions. A new subject may come to light, and we adjust our schedule to accommodate them. Or a subject needs to be postponed for a few hours, and the schedule shift allows us to capture a new addition to our story. My ability to shift course provides for a more fluid media production.

Everyone has unique experiences and stories to share, and it's my job to capture those stories through multimedia (photography and video). By sharing one's life experiences, we can touch the hearts of others and inspire them. When I set out to write this blog, I didn't realize my mother had the same wanderlust spirit and go-with-the-flow expectations as I do. I learned more about myself and my mother from writing this blog.