The Souvenirs You Can't Buy

There are souvenirs you can buy on vacation such as a beautiful piece of pottery, a T-shirt you probably didn’t need, a fridge magnet and if you’re anything like me, something that seemed absolutely essential in the moment but makes you wonder, “What was I thinking?” six months later.

But the best souvenirs are the ones you can’t buy. They’re the sound of laughter around a table with people you just met. The kindness of a stranger who helped you find your way. The smell of coffee drifting through a little café in the morning. The feeling of warm sand between your toes. The sunset you stopped to watch instead of rushing past. The unexpected conversation that stayed with you long after you said goodbye. The little moments when you thought, Wow… I am really lucky to be here.

These are the treasures I want to bring home. Travel has a funny way of filling our suitcases with things while quietly filling us with something much more valuable… memories, stories, connections, perspective and gratitude. Those souvenirs don’t need a customs declaration. They don’t take up space in your closet. They don’t go out of style. You simply carry them home in your heart. So, the next time you’re travelling, Ms. Mindful Traveller suggests looking beyond the souvenir shop. Pause, notice and take it all in. Ask yourself, What is happening right now that I will wish I could bottle and bring home? Sometimes the most meaningful souvenirs are the moments we never thought to photograph. Those are often the ones we remember forever.

Travel mindfully, collect memories, leave a little kindness behind and bring home the souvenirs that money can’t buy.

Yours in reflection, Ms. Mindful Traveller