Sliding out of Singapore to the States to speak started the whole slay ride. Around California with family and friends grounded me to something called ‘Home’. Teaching art in a tiny Italian village before discovering Croatia for the first time seeped me in medieval architecture and stone. Following up with a week in France with friends put a few pounds on my waist and a spin through Germany reminded me of my warrior ancestors who ventured south to fight the Moors. Back again to Singapore bring me full circle to a place I know before venturing out again to see the sand below the Maldivian Sea.

But besides AirMiles, I don’t believe traveling gains us any points unless we somehow digest and then utilize all we have eaten along our journey. Instead we just get fat with heaps of imagery and ideas that swoosh about inside looking for some outlet. Like food that powers muscles to run a marathon, experiences feed our sensibilities so that we can develop of find new paradigms. This shift happens when seeing how other people approach life and then applying some learning to our own programing which brings a positive outcome.

So if I apply this litmus test to my travels, where do I see the growth? How have I changed and how am I doing things better today as compared to when I left? Am I more comfortable in my skin? Do I give others and myself the benefit of the doubt? Can I see the tree through the tree? Am I grateful each day for something? Answering these questions shows me if all my striving is doing me any good.

Certainly hope so.