One of the reasons I feel cut out for traveling is that I am one of those crazy people who truly loves flying. And that will be one of my main activities over the next eight months. Ever since I was little, going on an airplane was equivalent to a roller coaster or spaceship. As an "adult" I still feel a sense of childlike wonder every time I get to fly somewhere (window seat>), and I've learned that if you're open to it, every flight can be a spectacular experience with space for reflection and inspiration. 

Tonight, on a flight hugging the Gulf of Mexico, I witnessed a light show of epic proportions. With my head plastered to the small airplane window, I sat in awe of a fierce and massive lightning storm. For hours we soared along the edge of a mountain range of clouds, illuminated at random by flashing and snaking lightning bolts. The wall of clouds was cut and electrified in the most striking ways, with flashes of yellow, blue, and purple reflecting into the night. Contrastingly, a perfectly tranquil sea of stars hung above the clouds. Just as epic as the active sky dancing below, the endless starscape gave me a subtle but strong reminder that we are so infinitesimally small. And we are slowly losing our sense of wonder.

The ability to wonder is being forgotten on us as a culture. If we're wondering about a certain idea or question, we can find the answer .28 seconds later on a variety of platforms. But do we really solve anything for ourselves? Does this compilation of other people's interpretations hold truer to us than our own interpretation would be if we stayed with that sense of wonder for a bit longer? I've been challenging myself to not instantly reach for a smartphone the second I'm questioning something, because that moment of wonder is what makes us human. And that smartphone exists because of innovative moments from countless individuals before us who held onto that sense of wonder.

We tend to find ourselves in a state of wonder when we are able to feel small amongst the vastness of existence. There is something so humbling and gratifying about putting ourselves into this mindset of feeling small. Staring out across the endless ocean. Gazing deep into the night sky. Looking down on the world in all directions from a mountain summit. Or a plane. Travel in general will evoke these sensations.

I find solace in these moments because I instantaneously let go of all worries I may have been holding onto and meet my soul again in a place of appreciation for my mere existence in this life. To stand and face the most colossal and awe-inspiring moments in this world is a way to reconnect to oneself and the divinity within everything. 

So stay curious. And take a step back from your life every once in a while. Gaze longer into that scene that makes you feel small. If you feel exposed and free and afraid and rejoiced all at once then you're doing it right.