“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
Wanderlust. We have all seen the phrase, found ourselves pinning images with these words, and have experienced it from time to time. There were seasons where I would find myself longing to be a nomad, selling everything and going from place to place for months and years at a time. The AT, hiking the Pacific Crest, or backpacking through Europe. “Why not?” I would tell myself. There have also been other moments where I long for the comfort, stability, and safety of knowing I was going home. I would dream of beautiful spaces to share life with people, how they would combine form and function of design, and know they would be an oasis for many. I find myself living in this tension. How and why do I balance these moments? When I travel for a length of time, am I escaping for or from something? Am I hoping to find myself, some great discoveries of life, or is it just the mystery of the open road that lures me away?
I have found that there’s something incredible about travel. I love the idea of adventure, of looking fear and preconceived notions in the face, and pushing boundaries within my heart and mind. I think the greatest revelation from the past month has been a greater awareness of the ways I’ve changed for the better and the solidarity within these changes. As I discovered new people, places, and getting lost in cities I had never explored, my heart has changed in incredible ways. Truth be told, in Northern California, I live in a bubble. It’s not a bad bubble, but it is rather homogenous. I’m surrounded by people with the same ideals and core values, and our faith has shaped the culture of the area. I walk into coffee shops full of people committed to love, connecting to one another, and having honest, encouraging conversations. It’s unlike anywhere I’ve ever been. Over the past seven months this has become normal for me. But what happens when I leave? Do I view people the same way as I do in my coffee conversations? How do I respond to people who are different than me? Is my heart true in the way it’s changed? After this month, the answer has been a resounding “yes.” I have seen the beauty of restoration found and proven true in covenant relationships, the joy of honoring others and being a place of trust for their lives, have found ways to bring peace to stressful situations, the joy of sharing my life here with others, and knowing that little by little, I’m being led by my faith to become a better lover of people.
I’ve also found that through doing life in other locations and finding other cultures, my heart has discovered fresh eyes for rest, impassioned living, and the joy of connecting with others. Seeing design in LA and Santa Monica was incredible. As someone who works with products for children, it was incredible to be in Walt Disney’s playground and seeing the ways your senses were engaged in a total, and yes magical, experience. It has brought fresh life to the design process and what engages both children and the child at heart. Spending time back in Kentucky reminded me of the beauty and honor that can be found in your sources of upbringing. There’s something about the simple, rustic aesthetic, that will always grab my heart and inspire my creative process. Handlettering and wooden textures provides an experience in design that I love. I’m currently processing how this will inspire my aesthetic and love of simplicity, intentional marks, and the ways I create once these current design trends pass by.
Why do I travel?
Some travel to find themselves. I travel to be reminded of who I am.