Greetings!

After a brief interlude back in Minnesota, I’m hitting the road again.

Below are my recent thoughts on travel, and the idea of “waiting.”

The End of Waiting

Over the past two years, I’ve found myself frequently experiencing a strange new discomfort - a feeling of dissatisfied waiting.

I’ve been waiting for Japan to reopen so that I could spend a few months living in Tokyo - a lifelong goal of mine.

I’ve been waiting to find someone to travel with me to all the places I want to go, like New York, Paris, and New Zealand.

I’ve been waiting for COVID to settle down, and for airline travel to return to its previous level of convenience.

But all this waiting has left me feeling in a state of stagnation. I’m like a ship docked at the harbor waiting for perfect weather, calm seas, and a clear heading. Meanwhile, I’ve been anchored so long that the hull of the ship has begun to leak and rot to the point where not even the harbor is a pleasant place to be.

I had forgotten what it was like (before COVID) to always have a new adventure on the horizon and to have a fresh heading to aim toward.

Travel in 2022 is far more complicated than it was two years ago. From COVID testing and restrictions to frequent airline delays and cancellations to geopolitical conflicts - travel is more difficult and less pleasant than it has been at any other point in my lifetime. But these are all just excuses I’ve told myself. I’ve realized I need to take responsibility for the restless discomfort I’ve been feeling, and take action.

I recently took a month-long trip to LA, Seoul, and Hawaii, which was my favorite trip I’ve ever taken.

Next week I head to New York City for two weeks to visit one of my favorite cities in the world. I’ll be able to experience the opening night of ballet season, and the opening night of the latest Met Opera performance.

Planning these adventures has gotten me excited in a way I haven’t been in a long time.

I’ve grown so tired of waiting that I’d rather head out on half-cocked solo escapades than wait for the world to change around me. I’m at a stage in life where I’m called to adventure so strongly that I have no choice but to heed the call.

Even from the harbor, I can hear the siren song of adventure calling, and it’s time I set sail again.

Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend,

Isaac