Travelling is a lot like life. It’s full of surprises, some pleasant and some… well, let’s just say you’d rather have stayed home binge-watching your favourite Netflix series (like the four seasons of “Emily in Paris“), or should we rather embark on a Travel Adventure?
But it is in life’s surprises that magic happens. Those unexpected twists and turns, push you out of your comfort zone and make you realise that, no matter how perfectly you planned everything, life (and travel) has its own agendas.
Here’s a little secret: that’s where Travelling-with-Purpose comes into play. What’s Travel-with-Purpose, you ask? Think of it as a travel philosophy that can be your guiding star in a sky full of delayed flights, lost luggage, and questionable hotel bookings. It’s about finding joy, meaning, and purpose in your adventures, even when things don’t go as planned, finding the joy in those moments and the process of getting where you intended to go.
“Ikigai” is a Japanese concept that roughly translates to “a reason for being.” It’s the sweet spot where what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs all come together. Apply that to travel, and you’ve got a powerful combination that can turn any trip into an unforgettable experience, no matter what curveballs come your way.
Travelling is full of small moments that, if you’re not careful, can slip by unnoticed. Like the first sip of an espresso in a tiny local Italian café or the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs in a remote corner of Ireland. It’s easy to get caught up in the big picture—seeing all the landmarks and ticking off all the must-dos. Travel-with-Purpose and the philosophy of Ikigai encourage you to pause and savour those little moments that make you fall in love with the journey itself.
Remember that time you were booked into what you thought was a luxury hotel in Paris, only to find yourself in a room that looked more like it was inspired by a closet that wouldn’t even fit the shoes you packed into your 20kg baggage allowance? Paris and Europe are filled with them, so Top Travel Tip: When booking hotel rooms in Europe, make sure you check the size of the room; it says a lot about what you might be getting.
Instead of letting it ruin your trip, you laughed it off, grabbed a croissant, and headed out to explore the city of love, just like Emily did when she arrived in Paris (Yay!!!) for another season of this show starting soon. Nothing beats a quirky-dressed American exploring the sights of a city and snapping pictures away for the Gram, all while hoping to find love.
Turn your Strengths into Superpowers
Everyone has different strengths when it comes to travel. Maybe you’re the master of packing light (who needs more than one pair of shoes, anyway? Okay, maybe two?), or you’ve got an uncanny ability to make friends with locals who know all the best-hidden spots. Whatever your travel superpower is, lean into it. Or perhaps you can laugh, even in the worst possible situation.
There are things we can change, and things we can not, and knowing the difference and being happy despite those things we can not change is a special superpower—one which we all possess if we allow it.
Navigating the chaotic streets of Bangkok with nothing but a smile and a half-charged phone, relying on your natural charm to get directions from friendly street vendors might get you lost a few times. Still, you discover a night market that wasn’t even on your itinerary. And it becomes the highlight of your trip, and you purchase a copy of your favourite brand at a ¼ of the price. (Beat that Netflix!)
The world is a big, beautiful place, but it’s also fragile. As travellers, we have a responsibility to tread lightly and make a positive impact wherever we go. That could mean choosing eco-friendly accommodation, supporting local businesses, or even volunteering during your travels for a truly authentic experience.
Imagine a stranger coming into your home with an unruly 2-year-old who they allow to roam free and do as it wishes, leaving a path of destruction behind them, this said stranger has two cups of tea and leaves. Looking at your once neat home all you see now is juice spills, crumbs everywhere (and potentially a lot more): “Not Cool!” Now imagine this is your country, and the two-year-old is the tourist visiting and exploring what is on offer.
Leaving something as you found it shows respect for your host. Our planet is our home and needs to be looked after so that our children and grandchildren can experience all it has to offer in the years to come.
It takes nothing to be kind. When you Travel-with-Purpose it will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the world around you and a promise to travel more mindfully in the future.
Let’s face it: travel rarely goes according to plan. Flights get delayed, reservations get mixed up, and sometimes you end up in a destination you never thought you’d visit. But here’s the thing—those challenges are what makes travel so rewarding. They force you to adapt, to see the world from a new perspective, and to discover strengths you didn’t even know you had.
Being stuck with the world’s most annoying fellow traveller in the seat next to you or on a group tour? You can spend the whole trip complaining about them, or instead, decide to focus on the amazing sights around you. By the end of the tour, you have some great stories to tell and maybe even a few unexpected friends. It will be the one experience you will never ever forget.
Travel-with-purpose isn’t just about the places you go—it’s about how you approach the journey. It’s about realizing that every bump in the road is an opportunity to grow, learn, and make the most out of every situation. So, the next time your flight gets cancelled or your hotel room isn’t quite what you expected, remember your Purpose and embrace the chaos, laugh at the mishaps, and keep moving forward with a smile on your face.
And when life throws you a curveball—or an airline throws you a delay—remember that it’s all part of the journey. The best experiences often come from the unexpected, and the stories you’ll tell later will be all the richer for it.
So, go on, embrace the challenges, let go of life’s excess baggage, and travel with purpose. The world is waiting, and so is your next great adventure.
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