Gratitude Travels Well

There is something magical about gratitude when you travel.

Maybe it’s because we are already a little more awake to the world when we’re away. We notice the sunshine, the smell of coffee in the morning, the beautiful view, the music drifting down the street and suddenly, ordinary moments feel extraordinary.

But I’ve discovered that gratitude isn’t just something we feel on vacation. It’s something we can give.

Mr. Mindful Traveller and I try to travel with an attitude of gratitude. And no, that doesn’t mean we walk around with our hands clasped, smiling serenely at everyone while chanting, “I am grateful.” Although… there have been mornings when the coffee wasn’t ready, and I may have needed a little spiritual intervention!

For us, gratitude shows up in the little things. We say thank you and we mean it. We smile at the person who brings our coffee. We thank the taxi/uber/bus driver for getting us safely where we’re going. We learn a few words in the local language. We leave a thoughtful tip when someone has made our day a little easier. We compliment the cook, the server, the housekeeper, the tour guide.

And when someone goes out of their way to help us, we let them know that it mattered. Never forget people remember how you make them feel.

Gratitude Is a Travel Gift

Think about all the people who quietly contribute to our vacation.

Someone cleans our room. Someone grows or prepares our food. Someone drives us through unfamiliar streets. Someone carries our luggage. Someone gives us directions when we are completely turned around and insists that the restaurant we are looking for is “just around the corner,” which in some countries means five minutes and in others means… well, pack a lunch!

Every one of these people is part of our travel story. So why not make their day a little brighter too? A genuine smile. A sincere “thank you.” A compliment. A little patience. A willingness to listen. Picking up a piece of litter instead of walking past it. Respecting the local customs, people and places. These may seem like tiny things, but tiny things add up.

Leaving a Little Goodness Behind

I believe mindful travel isn’t only about what we take home with us. It’s also about what we leave behind. Not our garbage, hopefully!

We want to leave behind kindness. Respect. Appreciation. A positive interaction. Perhaps a stranger remembers us because we took the time to ask their name. Perhaps a server goes home smiling because someone noticed their hard work. Perhaps a local business benefits because we chose to spend our money there. Perhaps we leave a place just a tiny bit better than we found it. That, to me, is gratitude in action.

Mr. and Ms. Mindful Traveller aren’t perfect travellers. We get tired. We get lost. We occasionally have opinions about delayed flights and questionable directions! We try to remember that we are guests, and when you are a guest in someone’s home, community or country, gratitude is a pretty wonderful way to behave.

On your next vacation, try this:

Look for three opportunities every day to express gratitude. Thank someone who helped you. Compliment someone who made your experience special. Show appreciation for the place you are visiting.

Before you leave, ask yourself:

“Did I make this place and the people I encountered feel a little better because I was here?”

Sometimes the smiles we exchanged, the friendships we sparked and the little moments of kindness that travelled both ways are what makes our adventures go from good to great!

Travel with gratitude. Give it freely. And watch how far it travels.

Travel mindfully. Live gratefully. Leave a little goodness wherever you go!

Yours gratefully, Ms. Mindful Traveller