Finding our humanity through travel
I'm thinking about the beauty of connecting with others on the road in advance of my upcoming adventure. Plus: Some exciting news on my end.
It’s Independence Day here in the United States, and I’m one of millions who are reflecting on the difficult climate—the loss of constitutional rights when it comes to women’s bodies, the never-ending gun violence, the ongoing environmental issues, the hate crimes, the high inflation… should I go on? I’m about to head out on the road again, and as these domestic issues swirl around in my mind, I look forward to the perspectives I’ll gain through the people I meet and spend time with on my travels.
I’ve often shared grievances about my own country with people who in turn reveal heartaches about theirs. While talking won’t make our troubles go away, lending an ear and then having that reciprocated—without comparisons or judgment—makes me feel a little less alone in the world. I come away from these conversations remembering that we all ultimately want the same things—peace and love, food and shelter, safety for ourselves and our loved ones, and a planet that can sustain itself for millennia to come.
I’m headed to my New York City base this week before continuing on to Tanzania to visit a national park with an exciting conservation story. The week is filled with news: I’m also rejoining Afar Media as their Senior Deputy Editor, and will be spearheading hospitality content on a number of digital platforms, while also producing a regular print column. I’ll be working closely with Laura Redman, Afar’s talented Digital Director, and I’m thrilled to be working with both old and new colleagues as I take on this exciting challenge.
Back to Tanzania: I’m counting the days till I return to a wild corner of this incredible destination. The last time I visited was in 2018, when I spent an extended period exploring the landscapes of the 350,000-acre Singita Grumeti, a private reserve next to Serengeti National Park. On that trip, I loved being able to stick around in one place long enough to be able to zoom in on the things I might otherwise have missed. I spent an entire afternoon talking about grasses with a guide who has a passion for them, and passed another watching a leopard compete with baboons over the ownership of a tree. I’ll leave you with a few landscape shots from that trip so you too can dream about this beautiful country. I’ll end with a poem that reminds me why I spend so much of my time escaping into nature.
The Other Kingdoms
By Mary Oliver
Consider the other kingdoms. The
trees, for example, with their mellow-sounding
titles: oak, aspen, willow.
Or the snow, for which the peoples of the north
have dozens of words to describe its
different arrivals. Or the creatures, with their
thick fur, their shy and wordless gaze. Their
infallible sense of what their lives
are meant to be. Thus the world
grows rich, grows wild, and you too,
grow rich, grow sweetly wild, as you too
were born to be.